Tympanum (architecture)

The late Romanesque tympanum of Vézelay Abbey, Burgundy, France, dating from the 1130s

In architecture, a tympanum (plural, tympana) is the semi-circular or triangular decorative wall surface over an entrance, bounded by a lintel and arch.^[1] It often contains sculpture or other imagery or ornaments.^[2] Most architectural styles include this element.^[3] In ancient Greek and Roman and in Christian architecture tympana usually contain religious imagery,^[4] when on religious buildings, and are very often the most important, or only, location for monumental sculpture on the outside of a building. In classical architecture, and in classicising styles from the Renaissance onwards, major examples are usually triangular; in Romanesque architecture they have a semi-circular shape, or that of a thinner slice from the top of a circle, and in Gothic architecture they have a more vertical shape, coming to a point at the top. These shapes naturally influence the typical compositions of sculpture within the tympanum.

Bands of molding surrounding the tympanum are referred to as the archivolt.^[5] In medieval French architecture the tympanum is often supported by a decorated pillar called a trumeau.

Gallery

The 2000-year-old Pantheon in Rome, Italy (the tympanum is the area inside the triangular pediment—plain here but was originally decorated)
One of the few sections of the sculpture of the tympanum of the Parthenon still in place; others are the Elgin marbles in London
Archivolts surrounding a tympanum of the west façade Strasbourg Cathedral, France
The three tympana on the main façade of Notre-Dame de Paris, France
Sculpted tympanum in Stralsund, Germany
Adoration of the Magi on a tympanum on Saint-Thiébaut Church, Thann, France
Religious scene in a tympanum, Saint Joseph church, Clermont-Ferrand, France
Scenes of the lives of Saint Peter and Mary, St Peter's, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
High-relief bronze tympanum of Writing, Thomas Jefferson Building, Washington, DC, USA
Tympanum (showing the tree of life) and archivolt at Church of St Mary and St David, Kilpeck
Tympanum showing Christ in Majesty with four attendant angels, Rowlestone, Herefordshire, UK
Typanum of the Manila Cathedral in Intramuros, Philippines