Antefix

: It provides a rhythmic, decorative border that breaks up the repetition of plain roof tiles. Myth and Magic: The Apotropaic Power

Ancient architects didn't just want their roofs to stay dry; they wanted them spiritually protected. Many antefixes served an purpose—a fancy word for something designed to ward off evil.

You can find stunning examples of original antefixes at several world-class institutions: The Metropolitan Museum of Art Art museum ClosedNew York, NY, United States

: It seals the open ends of "cover tiles" ( imbrices ), preventing rain, wind, and even pests from entering the wooden roof structure and causing rot.

An antefix (from the Latin antefigere , meaning "to fasten before") is a vertical block positioned at the eaves of a tiled roof. Its primary job is to :

While grand imperial buildings might use richly carved , the majority of antefixes were made from molded terracotta .