ATLANTES, ăt-lăn′tēz
(Gk. nom. pl. Ἄτλαντες; see
Atlas.) Carved male
figures used in architecture as
supports to cornices,
architraves, etc. They correspond
to the female
Caryatides, but were not so
popular in Greek art.
Examples are in the temple
at Girgenti, the theatre at
Athens, in minor parts of
Mediæval decorative work,
and especially, on a large
scale, in late Renaissance
buildings.
