What is the Greek ornament featuring an alternating egg-shaped motif and a dart-like motif?

What is the Greek ornament featuring an alternating egg-shaped motif and a dart-like motif?

• A. Acroteria
• B. Egg and Dart
• C. Triglyph
• D. Meander

Answer: (B)

The Egg and Dart motif is a classic Greek border design that pairs rounded egg-shaped forms with slim, dart-like elements in a repeating sequence, creating a lively yet orderly rhythm on friezes and cornices. This combination of soft ovals and sharp darts is distinctive and widely used in classical architecture, helping to identify the pattern. It differs from acroteria, which are ornamental figures placed on the roofline or pediment; triglyphs, which are the three vertical channels seen in Doric friezes; and meander, the continuous geometric Greek-key border.

The Egg and Dart motif is a classic Greek border design that pairs rounded egg-shaped forms with slim, dart-like elements in a repeating sequence, creating a lively yet orderly rhythm on friezes and cornices. This combination of soft ovals and sharp darts is distinctive and widely used in classical architecture, helping to identify the pattern. It differs from acroteria, which are ornamental figures placed on the roofline or pediment; triglyphs, which are the three vertical channels seen in Doric friezes; and meander, the continuous geometric Greek-key border.