Anta (architecture)

parastades), is a term in classical architecture describing the posts or pillars on either side of a doorway or entrance of a Greek temple – the slightly projecting piers which terminate the side walls (of the naos).

In contrast to columns or pillars, antae are directly connected with the walls of a temple.

They were used as load-bearing structures to carry the roof timbers, as no reliance could be placed on walls built with unburnt brick or in rubble masonry with clay mortar.

[3] The anta is generally crowned by a stone block designed to spread the load from superstructure (entablature) it supports, called an "anta capital" when it is structural, or sometimes "pilaster capital" if it is only decorative as often during the Roman period.

[4][5] Early Greek temples, the "distyle temples", such as the 6th century BCE Siphnian Treasury had antae on both side of the porch, framing a set of columns (a disposition named "distyle in antis", meaning "two columns in between antae").

The Athenian Treasury in Delphi with two antae framing a set of two columns
An anta behind a row of columns at the Erectheion , a prostyle temple, Athens (built between 421 and 406 BCE). A decorative capital can be seen at the top.