Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Antefixa

Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary, and Greek Lexicon (Rich, 1849)

ANTEFIX'A. Ornaments in terra-cotta, invented by the Etruscan architects, from whom they were borrowed by the Romans, and used to decorate various parts of an edifice externally as well as internally, to cover a flat surface, or conceal the junctures between two blocks of masonry, or to make an ornamental finish to any rough or inelegant contour. Hence the name is specially applied to the following distinct objects.

1. Long flat slabs of terra-cotta with designs in relief, which were nailed along the whole surface of a frieze (zophorus), in order to enrich the entablature, and give to the part a finished and ornamental effect. The Greek artists sculptured the marble itself, and held such a contrivance for concealing defects in supreme contempt. (Liv. xxxiv. 4.) The illustration (Antefixa/1.1) represents an original antefix found at Rome, which had once been used for the purpose described. The holes for the nails by which it was fastened up are perceivable on the surface.

2. Ornaments of the same material which were affixed to the cornice of an entablature, for the purpose of affording a vent for the rain weater to discharge itself from the roof into the street. (Fest. s. v.) They represent the "gurgoils" of Gothic architecture, but are of a more simple design, and most frequently formed by the mask of a lion's head, in allusion to the inundation of the Nile, which takes place when the sun is in the sign of Leo. The illustration (Antefixa/2.1) is taken from an original found at Rome, which shows a round hole in the mouth, where a leaden tube was inserted to form a spout for the discharge of the water.

3. Upright ornaments placed along the top of an entablature, above the upper member of the cornice, to conceal the ends of the ridge tiles (imbrices), and the juncture of the flat ones. The illustration (Antefixa/3.1) represents a front and side view of two originals found at Rome; the upper figure, in the centre, shows the ends of the tiles as they appear without the antefix, the one beneath it with the antefixes attached; the right-hand figure also shows the shoulder at the back, which was inserted under the imbrex, to fix it up; and the left-hand one, which has an image of Victory on its face, thus presents a graphic commentary to the passage of Livy (xxvi. 23.), where he mentions that the statue of Victory on the top of the temple of Concord, fell down, and was caught by the Victories in the antefixes: Victoria, quae in culmine erat, fulmine icta decussaque, ad Victorias, quae in antefixis erant, haesit, &c.

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  Antefixa/1.1
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  Antefixa/2.1
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  Antefixa/3.1