pediment

Triangular gable-like structure surmounting the end of a portico or doorway at the entrance of buildings, especially religious or other monumental buildings in European architecture; also adapted at a smaller scale above doors, windows, niches, cabinets and fireplaces. Pediments serve both aesthetic and functional purposes — they frame the building facade and help transfer the weight of the roof. Originating in Ancient Greek temples, the pediment became a hallmark of Classical architecture and was later adapted in Roman, Renaissance (fifteenth century) and Baroque (sixteenth century) architecture, with variations of the simple, pointed pediment including the segmented (curved), open, broken, and scrolled or swan-neck pediments. The surface of the pediment, called the tympanum, often featured ornate motifs including human or celestial figures, and objects such as urns, scrolls, and volutes, carved in marble or granite. Historically associated with palaces, administrative and judicial buildings, universities and cultural institutions, the pediment also became a common motif on newer institutions like banks and museums by the twentieth century.