entablaste

An entablature, sometimes called entablaste in Spanish-language texts, is the horizontal member that spans from column to column above the capitals in classical architecture. It sits atop the architrave and distributes weight and lateral forces, helping to organize the façade into a continuous horizontal band. The entablature is traditionally divided into three parts: the architrave, the frieze, and the cornice. The architrave is the lowest fascia; the frieze sits above it and may be plain or decorated; the cornice projects outward to crown the structure and cast shadows that define its silhouette.

In Greek architecture, the entablature reflects the characteristics of the three main orders. Doric entablatures tend to be sturdy and restrained, with a relatively simple architrave and a frieze that may include triglyphs and metopes; Ionic and Corinthian orders feature more elaborate architraves and often richer sculptural ornament on the frieze, with a more decorative cornice. The proportions and ornamentation of the entablature help articulate the order and contribute to the overall rhythm of a façade.

Roman practice adopted and adapted the entablature, sometimes increasing its prominence and elaboration. During the Renaissance and later in neoclassical architecture, architects treated the entablature as a primary device for proportion and articulation, reinforcing a classical vocabulary. In modern architecture, the entablature is frequently used as a decorative reference to classical language, even when not structurally necessary.