what is the triangular shaped area at each end of the greek temple called
tympanon
title: Ancient Greek architecture text: supported the roof. The upper band of the entablature is called the "cornice", which is generally ornately decorated on its lower edge. The cornice retains the shape of the beams that would once have supported the wooden roof at each end of the building. At the front and rear of each temple, the entablature supports a triangular structure called the "pediment". The triangular space framed by the cornices is the location of the most significant sculptural decoration on the exterior of the building. Every temple rested on a masonry base called the crepidoma, generally of three steps, of which the title: Ancient Greek temple text: The pedimental triangle or "tympanon" on the narrow sides of the temple was created by the Doric introduction of the gabled roof, earlier temples often had hipped roofs. The "tympanon" was usually richly decorated with sculptures of mythical scenes or battles. The corners and ridges of the roof were decorated with "acroteria", originally geometric, later floral or figural decorations. As far as topographically possible, the temples were freestanding and designed to be viewed from all sides. They were not normally designed with consideration for their surroundings, but formed autonomous structures. This is a major difference from Roman temples which were title: Ancient Greek temple text: Ancient Greek temple Greek temples (, semantically distinct from Latin , "temple") were structures built to house deity statues within Greek sanctuaries in ancient Greek religion. The temple interiors did not serve as meeting places, since the sacrifices and rituals dedicated to the respective deity took place outside them, within the wider precinct of the sanctuary, which might be large. Temples were frequently used to store votive offerings. They are the most important and most widespread building type in Greek architecture. In the Hellenistic kingdoms of Southwest Asia and of North Africa, buildings erected to fulfill the functions of a title: Ancient Greek temple text: Apollo A at Metapontum, both of which have a width of nine columns (enneastyle), and the Archaic temple at Thermos with a width of five columns (pentastyle). The elevation of Greek temples is always subdivided in three zones: the "crepidoma", the columns and the entablature. Stereobate, "euthynteria" and "crepidoma" form the substructure of the temple. The underground foundation of a Greek temple is known as the stereobate. It consists of several layers of squared stone blocks. The uppermost layer, the "euthynteria", partially protrudes above the ground level. Its surface is carefully smoothed and levelled. It supports a further foundation of title: Ancient Greek temple text: backing up on the "opisthodomos". The complex formed by the "naos", "pronaos", "opisthodomos" and possibly the "adyton" is enclosed on all four sides by the "peristasis", usually a single row, rarely a double one, of columns. This produces a surrounding portico, the "pteron", which offered shelter to visitors of the sanctuary and room for cult processions. These components allowed the realisation of a variety of different plan types in Greek temple architecture. The simplest example of a Greek temple is the "templum in antis", a small rectangular structure sheltering the cult statue. In front of the "cella", a small porch