A metope is the roughly square, plain panel between two triglyphs in the frieze of a Doric temple. Triglyphs are the blocks with three vertical grooves; a metope sits between each pair. Together they form the characteristic rhythmic frieze of the Doric order.
Position in the entablature
The entablature of a classical temple consists, from bottom to top, of:
- Architrave — the load-bearing beam directly on the columns
- Frieze — in the Doric order: alternating triglyphs and metopes
- Cornice (geison) — the projecting top element
Origin of the form
The Doric order is generally understood as a petrified version of an earlier timber structure. On that reading the triglyphs represent the end grain of the roof beams, and the metopes the panels between them — originally open, or closed with a slab. Executed in stone, those panels became an obvious field for sculpture.
Sculpture
Metopes are often decorated with relief: mythological scenes with gods, centaurs or heroes, usually one scene per panel. The metopes of the Parthenon in Athens are the best-known examples; some are in the British Museum and some in Athens. On plainer buildings the metopes were left smooth or simply painted.
A classic design problem is the corner conflict: at the corner of the temple a triglyph must land exactly on the corner while also sitting above the centre of a column. Greek builders solved this by moving the corner columns slightly inwards and making the last metope a little wider.
Related terms
- Frieze
- Doric order
- Entablature
- Architrave
- Guttae
- Relief
- Classical orders
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