antefix
architecture
Quick Summary
satyr
Etruscan roof tile (antefix) with the head of a satyr, terra-cotta, 4th century bce; in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City.
An antefix is an ornamental element in classical architecture. It is used at the eaves of a roof to conceal the ends of the joint tiles. The term "antefix" comes from the Latin word "antefixum," meaning "fastened before." Antefixes were part of the decorative and functional design of roofs in ancient buildings, particularly in Roman and Greek architecture.12
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