pointed arch

References

pointed arch

construction

Also known as: equilateral arch, ogival

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 1, 2026

Quick Summary

The pointed arch, also known as the Gothic arch, is a curved architectural element that spans an opening and supports weight from above. Unlike semicircular arches, pointed arches are formed by two intersecting arcs of a circle, allowing them to be raised as high over a short span as over a long one. This design distributes thrust more directly downward, reducing the outward pressure on supporting walls.123

Construction of an arch relies on wedge-shaped blocks called voussoirs. These are supported by temporary centering until the central keystone is placed, locking the structure. The pointed arch was popularized by Islamic architecture and became a fundamental element in Gothic architecture, enabling taller and more open buildings with larger windows.143

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

4 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

bridge
Stone arch bridges
ogival arch by concealing the angle at the crown and by starting the curves of the arches vertically in their springings from the piers. This elliptical shape of arch, in which the rise-to-span ratio was as low as 1:7, became known as basket-handled and has…
Read More
ogival arch by concealing the angle at the crown and by starting the curves of the arches vertically in their springings from the piers. This elliptical shape of arch, in which the rise-to-span ratio was as low as 1:7, became known as basket-handled and has…
Read More

arch
The Arabs popularized the pointed arch, and it was in their mosques that this form first acquired its religious connotations. Medieval Europe made great use of the pointed arch, which constituted a basic element in Gothic architecture. In the late Middle Ages the segmental arch was introduced. This form…
Read More
The Arabs popularized the pointed arch, and it was in their mosques that this form first acquired its religious connotations. Medieval Europe made great use of the pointed arch, which constituted a basic element in Gothic architecture. In the late Middle Ages the segmental arch was introduced. This form…
Read More

Cistercian style
…for the dissemination of the pointed arch, in anticipation of full-fledged Gothic construction. The major Cistercian buildings of the 12th century were Cîteaux (1125–93), the abbey of Clairvaux (1133–74), and the abbey church of Fontenay (begun 1139).
Read More
…for the dissemination of the pointed arch, in anticipation of full-fledged Gothic construction. The major Cistercian buildings of the 12th century were Cîteaux (1125–93), the abbey of Clairvaux (1133–74), and the abbey church of Fontenay (begun 1139).
Read More

Western architecture
Romanesque
…ribbed groin-vaulted unit bay, using pointed arches to distribute thrust and improve the shape of the geometric surfaces. Fifty years of experimentation produced vaulting that was light, strong, open, versatile, and applicable everywhere—in short, Gothic vaulting. A whole new aesthetic, with a new decorative system—the Gothic—was being evolved as early…
Read More
…ribbed groin-vaulted unit bay, using pointed arches to distribute thrust and improve the shape of the geometric surfaces. Fifty years of experimentation produced vaulting that was light, strong, open, versatile, and applicable everywhere—in short, Gothic vaulting. A whole new aesthetic, with a new decorative system—the Gothic—was being evolved as early…
Read More