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A lintel can be a load-bearing building component, a decorative architectural element, or a

combined ornamented structural item. It is often found overportals,doors,windows, and

fireplaces.

Contents[hide]

1 Structural uses 2 Ornamental uses 3 Examples gallery 4 See also 5 Notes

Structural uses [edit]

In worldwide architecture of different eras and many cultures, a lintel has been an element of

Post and lintelconstruction. Many different building materials have been used for lintels. A

lintel is defined as a structural horizontal block that spans the space or opening between two

vertical supports.[1]

In classical western construction methods, defining lintel by itsMerriam-Websterdefinition,

a lintel is a load-bearing member and is placed over an entranceway.[2]In ancientWestern

classical architecturethe lintel, called anarchitrave, is a structural element that usually rested

on stone pillars or stacked stone columns, over a portal or entranceway. An example from theMycenaean Greececultural period (c. 1600 BCE c. 1100 BCE) is theTreasury of Atreusin

Mycenae, Greece.

A lintel in a fireplace supports the chimney above the fireplace.

Ornamental carved lintel overMandapaentrance atChennakesava Temple, in theHoysala

architecturetradition of southern India.

Ornamental uses [edit]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal_(architecture)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal_(architecture)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal_(architecture)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windowhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windowhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windowhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fireplacehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fireplacehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lintel_(architecture)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lintel_(architecture)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lintel_(architecture)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lintel_(architecture)#Structural_useshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lintel_(architecture)#Structural_useshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lintel_(architecture)#Ornamental_useshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lintel_(architecture)#Ornamental_useshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lintel_(architecture)#Examples_galleryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lintel_(architecture)#Examples_galleryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lintel_(architecture)#See_alsohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lintel_(architecture)#See_alsohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lintel_(architecture)#Noteshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lintel_(architecture)#Noteshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lintel_(architecture)&action=edit&section=1http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lintel_(architecture)&action=edit&section=1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post_and_lintelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post_and_lintelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lintel_(architecture)#cite_note-1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lintel_(architecture)#cite_note-1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lintel_(architecture)#cite_note-1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merriam-Websterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merriam-Websterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merriam-Websterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lintel_(architecture)#cite_note-2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lintel_(architecture)#cite_note-2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lintel_(architecture)#cite_note-2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_architecturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_architecturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_architecturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_architecturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Architravehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Architravehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Architravehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mycenaean_Greecehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mycenaean_Greecehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treasury_of_Atreushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treasury_of_Atreushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treasury_of_Atreushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mycenaehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mycenaehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandapahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandapahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandapahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chennakesava_Templehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chennakesava_Templehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chennakesava_Templehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoysala_architecturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoysala_architecturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoysala_architecturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoysala_architecturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lintel_(architecture)&action=edit&section=2http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lintel_(architecture)&action=edit&section=2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Belur2_retouched.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Belur2_retouched.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lintel_(architecture)&action=edit&section=2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoysala_architecturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoysala_architecturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chennakesava_Templehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandapahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mycenaehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treasury_of_Atreushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mycenaean_Greecehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Architravehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_architecturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_architecturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lintel_(architecture)#cite_note-2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merriam-Websterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lintel_(architecture)#cite_note-1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post_and_lintelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lintel_(architecture)&action=edit&section=1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lintel_(architecture)#Noteshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lintel_(architecture)#See_alsohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lintel_(architecture)#Examples_galleryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lintel_(architecture)#Ornamental_useshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lintel_(architecture)#Structural_useshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lintel_(architecture)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fireplacehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windowhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal_(architecture)

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The use of the lintel form as a decorative building element over portals, with no structural

function, has been employed in the architectural traditions and styles of most cultures over

the centuries.

An example of the ornamental use of lintels are in theIndian rock-cut architectureof

Buddhist templesin caves. Preceding prehistoric and subsequent Indian Buddhisttempleswere wooden buildings with structural load-bearing wood lintels across openings. The rock-

cut excavated cave temples were more durable, and the non-load-bearing carved stone lintels

allowed creative ornamental uses of classical Buddhist elements. Highly skilled artisans were

able to simulate the look of a wood, imitating the nuances of a wooden structure and the

wood grain in excavating cave temples from monolithic rock.[3]

In freestanding Indian

building examples, theHoysala architecturetradition between the 11th and 14th centuries

produced many elaborately carved non-structural stone lintels in the SouthernDeccan Plateau

region of southern India. TheHoysala Empireera was an important period in the

development of art and architectural the South IndianKannadiganculture. It is remembered

today primarily for itsHindu temples'mandapa, lintels, and other architectural elements,

such as at theChennakesava Temple.

TheMaya civilizationinthe Americaswas known for its sophisticated art and monumental

architecture. The Mayan city ofYaxchilan, on theUsumacinta Riverin present day southern

Mexico, specialized in the stone carving of ornamental lintel elements within structural stone

lintels. The earliest carved lintels were created in 723 CE. At the Yaxchilan archaeological

site there are fifty-eight lintels with decorative pieces spanning the doorways of major

structures. Among the finest Mayan carving to be excavated are three temple door lintels that

feature narrative scenes of a queen celebrating the king's anointing by a god.[4]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_rock-cut_architecturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_rock-cut_architecturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_rock-cut_architecturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Buddhist_templeshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Buddhist_templeshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Templehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Templehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Templehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lintel_(architecture)#cite_note-keay-3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lintel_(architecture)#cite_note-keay-3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lintel_(architecture)#cite_note-keay-3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoysala_architecturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoysala_architecturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoysala_architecturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deccan_Plateauhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deccan_Plateauhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deccan_Plateauhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoysala_Empirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoysala_Empirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoysala_Empirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kannadigahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kannadigahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kannadigahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_templehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_templehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_templehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandapahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandapahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandapahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chennakesava_Templehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chennakesava_Templehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chennakesava_Templehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maya_civilizationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maya_civilizationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maya_civilizationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Americashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Americashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Americashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yaxchilanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yaxchilanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yaxchilanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usumacinta_Riverhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usumacinta_Riverhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usumacinta_Riverhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lintel_(architecture)#cite_note-4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lintel_(architecture)#cite_note-4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lintel_(architecture)#cite_note-4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lintel_(architecture)#cite_note-4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usumacinta_Riverhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yaxchilanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Americashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maya_civilizationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chennakesava_Templehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandapahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_templehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kannadigahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoysala_Empirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deccan_Plateauhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoysala_architecturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lintel_(architecture)#cite_note-keay-3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Templehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Buddhist_templeshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_rock-cut_architecture