Trilithon

Trilithon

A trilithon (or "trilith") is a structure consisting of two large vertical stones (posts) supporting a third stone set horizontally across the top (lintel). Commonly used in the context of megalithic monuments. The most famous trilithons are those at Stonehenge and those found in the prehistoric temples in Malta, which are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The word "trilithon" is derived from the Greek 'having three stones' (Tri - "three", lithos - "stone") and was first used by William Stukeley.

The term also describes the groups of three stones in the Hunebed tombs of the Netherlands and the three massive stones forming part of the wall of the Roman Temple of Jupiter at Baalbek, Lebanon. Far from Europe and the Middle East, another famous trilithon is the Haʻamonga ʻa Maui in Tonga, Polynesia.

ee also

* Dolmen


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  • Trilithon — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Trilithon , templo Mnajdra , Malta Un trilithon (o trilith) es una estructura que consta de dos grandes piedras verticales (postes) el apoyo a una tercera serie de piedra horizontalmente en la parte superior (dintel) …   Wikipedia Español

  • Trilithon — Tril i*thon (tr[i^]l [i^]*th[o^]n), n.; pl. {Trilithons}. [NL., fr. Gr.? of or with three stones; ? (see {Tri }) + ? stone.] (Arch[ae]ol.) A monument consisting of three stones; especially, such a monument forming a kind of doorway, as among the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • trilithon — /truy lith on, truy leuh thon /, n. a prehistoric structure consisting of two upright stones supporting a horizontal stone. Also, trilith /truy lith/. [1730 40; < Gk trílithon, neut. of trílithos having three stones. See TRI , LITH] * * * …   Universalium

  • Trilithon — Ein Trilith (lat. tri drei, gr. litus Stein; weil aus drei Steinen bestehend) ist ein Torbau, Durchgang oder ein architektonisches Bauelement, das aus zwei Tragsteinen und einem aufliegenden (dritten) Deckstein besteht, eine eigenständige Statik… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • trilithon — noun A structure consisting of two stone pillars supporting a horizontal stone …   Wiktionary

  • trilithon — [trʌɪ lɪθ(ə)n] (also trilith trʌɪlɪθ) noun Archaeology a megalithic structure consisting of two upright stones and a third across the top as a lintel. Origin C18: from Gk, from tri three + lithos stone …   English new terms dictionary

  • trilithon — tri·lithon …   English syllables

  • trilithon — /ˈtrɪləθɒn/ (say triluhthon) noun a prehistoric monument consisting of two vertical megaliths supporting a horizontal megalith, as at Stonehenge. {Greek trīlīth three stones} …  

  • trilithon — …   Useful english dictionary

  • Trilito — Trilithon , templo Mnajdra , Malta …   Wikipedia Español

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