Pediment

A pediment is an architectural element that forms the crowning feature of a classical façade. It is typically a roughly triangular gable that sits above the horizontal entablature, framing the space between the ends of the cornice and the roof. In classical Greek and Roman temples, the pediment fills the triangular field above the frieze and roofline and is often decorated with sculptural groups. In later architectural styles, including Renaissance, Baroque, and neoclassical, the pediment remains a recognizable decorative and symbolic header for buildings and doorways.

The term derives from Latin pedimentum, via French and Italian, and historically referred to a projecting architectural element resembling a “foot” or footing in its form and placement. Although triangles are the standard shape, pediments can be segmental (curved), ogival, or broken, with the latter featuring a central break or opening that creates a distinctive silhouette often used in Baroque and Palladian architecture.

In practice, pediments are commonly placed over doors, windows, and temple fronts as a decorative crown. They may be plain or richly sculpted with reliefs and statuary, and their presence helps signal a building’s classical or revived architectural language.

Geology also uses the term pediment to describe a broad, gently sloping erosional surface at the base of a mountain range in arid regions, formed by long-term weathering and transport processes. This usage is unrelated to the architectural sense but share the idea of a flat, expansive surface.