Crepidoma

In classical Greek architecture, crepidoma (Ancient Greek: κρηπίδωμα) is the foundation of one or more teps on which the superstructure of a building is erected^[1]^[2]. Usually the crepidoma has three levels^[3]^: 41^[4]^: 65,216, especially in Doric temples^[5]. However, exceptions are common: For example, the Heraion at Olympia features only two steps^[4]^: 64, and the Olympeion at Agrigento, Sicily has four^[4]^: 90.

Each level of crepidoma typically decreases in size incrementally going upwards, forming a series of steps along all or some sides of the building^{[citation needed]}. The crepidoma rests on the euthynteria (Ancient Greek: ἡ εὐθυντηρία) or foundation^[3]^: 41, which historically was constructed of locally available stone for the sake of economy^{[citation needed]}.

The topmost level of the crepidoma is called the stylobate (Ancient Greek: ὁ στῡλοβᾰ́της) and it is the platform for the columns (Ancient Greek: οἵ στῦλοι - styloi)^[2]^[6]^: 111^[4]^: 221. The lower levels of the crepidoma are called the stereobates^[4]^: 221. The step-like arrangement of the crepidoma may extend around all four sides of a structure like a temple, for example, on the Parthenon. On some temples, the steps extend only across the front façade, or they may wrap around the sides for a short distance, a detail that is called a return, as seen at the Sanctuary of Despoina at Lycosoura.

It is common for the hidden portions of each level of the stereobate to be of a lower grade of material than the exposed elements of the steps and the stylobate^{[citation needed]}; each higher level of the crepidoma typically covers the clamps used to hold the stones of the lower level together^{[citation needed]}. The lower margins of each level of the crepidoma blocks are often cut back in a series of two or three steps to create shadow lines; this decorative technique is termed a reveal^{[citation needed]}.

References

^ Smith, William; Wayte, William; Marindin, G. D., eds. (1890). "Columna (p 490)". A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities. Vol. 1. Albemarie St.: John Murray.
^ ^a ^b "crepido". The Oxford Dictionary of Architecture. Oxford University Press. 2021. Retrieved 2014-11-15.
^ ^a ^b Robertson, D. S. (1929). Handbook of Greek and Roman Architecture. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Anderson, William J.; Spiers, R. Phené; Dinsmoor, William Bell (1927). The Architecture of Ancient Greece. London: B. T. Batsford Ltd.
^ Hornblower, Simon; Spawforth, Antony; Eidinow, Esther (2012). "Temple (p 1438 - 1439)". The Oxford Classical Dictionary (4th ed.).
^ Kjellberg, Ernst; Säflund, Gösta (1970). Greek and Roman Art 3000 B.C. to A.D. 550. Translated by Fraser, Peter (Apollo ed.). New York: Thomas Y. Crowell Company.

External links

Media related to Crepidomas at Wikimedia Commons

[dogara-1] Smith, William; Wayte, William; Marindin, G. D., eds. (1890). "Columna (p 490)". A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities. Vol. 1. Albemarie St.: John Murray.

[ofda-2] "crepido". The Oxford Dictionary of Architecture. Oxford University Press. 2021. Retrieved 2014-11-15.

[robertson-3] Robertson, D. S. (1929). Handbook of Greek and Roman Architecture. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

[dinsmoor-4] Anderson, William J.; Spiers, R. Phené; Dinsmoor, William Bell (1927). The Architecture of Ancient Greece. London: B. T. Batsford Ltd.

[ofc-5] Hornblower, Simon; Spawforth, Antony; Eidinow, Esther (2012). "Temple (p 1438 - 1439)". The Oxford Classical Dictionary (4th ed.).

[saflund_et_al-6] Kjellberg, Ernst; Säflund, Gösta (1970). Greek and Roman Art 3000 B.C. to A.D. 550. Translated by Fraser, Peter (Apollo ed.). New York: Thomas Y. Crowell Company.

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