A tympanum is the enclosed area between the lintel of a doorway and the arch above it, or more broadly, any wall surface bounded by an arch or pediment. In medieval church architecture, tympana are among the most important locations for sculptural programs depicting religious scenes.
Application
The tympanum appears in various architectural contexts, from ancient Greek temples to Gothic cathedrals and modern civic buildings. Its uses and characteristics include:
- Church portals: The most celebrated tympana are found above the entrances to Romanesque and Gothic cathedrals. These semi-circular panels were carved with scenes of the Last Judgment, Christ in Majesty, or the life of the Virgin Mary. Famous examples include the portal of Vezelay Abbey and Chartres Cathedral.
- Classical pediments: In Greek and Roman architecture, the triangular tympanum within a pediment was filled with sculptural groups. The Parthenon’s pediment sculptures are the most renowned examples.
- Spandrel areas: The triangular zones between adjacent arches (or between an arch and a rectangular frame) are also referred to as spandrels. In Islamic architecture, these areas are decorated with intricate geometric and floral patterns.
- Structural function: While primarily a decorative field, the tympanum wall also serves to fill the space above a lintel, transferring the weight of the arch around the opening rather than directly onto the lintel.
- Materials: Tympana are carved in stone, formed in cast terracotta, or rendered in mosaic (as in Byzantine churches). In timber-framed buildings, the tympanum may be infilled with plaster or brick nogging.
- Modern interpretation: Contemporary architects occasionally reference the tympanum by creating recessed or sculpted panels above entrances, using modern materials such as glass, metal, or concrete relief.
The word derives from the Greek “tympanon” (drum), referring to the stretched, flat surface resembling a drumhead within the curved frame.
Related terms
- Spandrel
- Pediment
- Lintel
- Voussoir
- Archivolt
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