A frieze is a decorative architectural feature that runs the length of a structure’s upper portion. A frieze appears beneath the cornice, the ornamental moldings directly below the roof, on the outside of a structure, whereas on the inside of a structure, a frieze typically runs above windows and doorways, and is often flush with the ceiling. Friezes, such as those that decorate the entablature of the Parthenon in Athens, can be found on many structures designed in the classical style.
Friezes are usually painted or carved with decorative elements, but they can also be both. Many classical friezes depicted mythological figures, and some were designed to tell a story in multiple panels. Other friezes are more simply decorated with geometric themes such as stripes, spirals, squares, meanders, and so on, as well as floral themes.
Friezes are made from a variety of materials. In some cases, the frieze is carved from stone, such as marble, slate, or limestone, while in others, the frieze is cast metal or plaster. A frieze in a more modern structure may be made of wood and painted or textured to distinguish it from the rest of the structure; modern friezes also tend to be much less elaborate in design.
Friezes are frequently used to decorate both the inside and outside of classical and neoclassical architectural structures. The frieze was part of the superstructure that supported a structure’s roof in classical architecture; this superstructure is known as the entablature, and it typically rests on the tops of the distinctive columns that distinguish classical architecture. The entabulatures of different styles of classical architecture are very distinctive and can be used to identify the period in which they were built. In Baroque architecture, highly ornamental friezes were also used, and they were sometimes brightly painted as well.
Although friezes can sometimes be difficult to distinguish from all of the other ornamental features on a particularly lavishly decorated building, they are generally very easy to recognize. Friezes are typically wider than the ornamental molding around them, and they are often slightly recessed, though this is not always the case.