As you see, the pillars had no base, but rested directly on the upper plinth of the foundation of the building. The shaft of the column is cut in flutings, and the number of them varies from sixteen to twenty; the latter number being most frequently used. The capital of the column is divided into two portions; the lower one is called the _echinus_, and projects beyond the shaft and supports a square tile or block which is called the _abacus_, and this is the architectural name for the upper member of all capitals to columns. The _architrave_ or principal beam above these columns rests directly on the capitals and runs around the building. This architrave is made of separate blocks of marble or stone, and is finished at the top by a small strip of the same materials, which is called a _tenia_. This cut, which gives a section of the Parthenon on a larger scale than the last picture, will enable you to find the different portions more easily (Fig. 40). [Illustration: FIG. 40.--FROM THE PARTHENON, ATHENS.] Above the architrave and resting on it is the _frieze_; this is ornamented with fluted spaces called _triglyphs_, because they are cut in three flutings. The spaces between the triglyphs are called _metopes_, and sometimes left plain, and sometimes ornamented with sculptures, as is the case in the frieze of the Parthenon. Under the triglyphs six little blocks, or drops, are placed so that they lay over the architrave. Above the frieze there is another narrow strip, or tenia, like that upon the architrave. Above all this rests the _cornice_, and underneath the cornice are one or more rows of the small, drop-like blocks such as make the lower finish of the triglyphs; in the lower band of the cornice separate blocks are placed over each triglyph and each metope, with a small space between. It is important to know that the architrave, frieze, and cornice, all taken together, form what is called the _entablature_; and the entablature occupies the whole of the broad space between the top of the capitals of the pillars and the lower edge of the roof. The triangular space formed by the sloping of the roof upon the ends of a building is called the _pediment_, and, as you will see in the picture of the Parthenon, its pediment was ornamented with elaborate sculptures which are spoken of in the volume of this series which is devoted to that art. It was customary to thus ornament the pediment and to paint the walls of the cella and other portions of the building, so that while the pure Doric style seems at first sight to be stiff and straight in its effect, it becomes rich and ornamental by the use of sculpture and painting, and yet remains solid and stable.