stilophore

300px|thumb|Stylophore lion at the entrance of Modena CathedralStylophore (from — “pillar” or “column”, and — “to carry” or “to support”) is an architectural element, a sculpture placed at the lower part of a column, resting on a stylobate or on a special pedestal. On the upper part of the stylophore there is a platform on which the column rests. The shape and size of a stylophore may vary depending on the architectural style and functional purpose of the building; a stylophore may serve as the base of a column or complement it. The use of stylophores helps ensure the stability of columns and distribute their weight over a larger surface. Stylophores were used in the architecture of Romanesque and Gothic churches, including in the decoration of Prothyrums. The sculptural image of a stylophore may be a human or an animal — real or imaginary — such as a lion, the most numerous, as well as griffin, elephants, oxen, etc.

== Stylophore lions == Especially often, stylophores were represented by sculptures of lions placed at the entrances of Romanesque and Gothic churches.