Terminal Figure (Noun)
Meaning
(architecture) a statue or a human bust or an animal carved out of the top of a square pillar; originally used as a boundary marker in ancient Rome.
Classification
Nouns denoting man-made objects.
Examples
- The terminal figure on top of the ancient pillar marked the boundary between two rival territories in ancient Rome.
- Archeologists carefully excavated the site to reveal a terminal figure of a mythical creature that had been hidden for centuries.
- The architect incorporated a terminal figure of a marble lion onto the top of each pillar to add an air of grandeur to the entrance.
- Terminal figures were a distinctive feature of Roman architecture and often depicted various deities or mythological creatures.
- The museum curator handled the ancient terminal figure with care as it was one of the only remaining relics of its kind from ancient Rome.