sima

• in architecture, a moulding, the ogee, Vitr. 3, 3 fin.; Inscr. Grut. 207, col. 1.

(κῦμα). A “sima” or “ogee.” An architectural term denoting a moulding shaped like the nose of a goat (simus=“snub-nosed”), used for the uppermost part of a cornice (Vitruv. iii. 5, 12).

A gutter, may be molded, attached to the uppermost part of the cornice of a building.

Description: The sima functioned as a continuous gutter. Its profile varies, having either a rectilinear or concave/convex edge. In both the Doric and Ionic orders, the raking, or sloping, cornice is almost always crowned by a sima, and along the flanks of the building there was often a sima. This lateral sima was always pierced with holes to let out the rain water which collected from the sloping roof. Generally these holes were masked by heads of lions moulded in high relief, through which ran a drain pipe. Other forms occur, including the dogs' and rams' heads, and frequently a plain cylindrical pipe was used. In the earliest Doric temples there was often only one lion's head spout at each corner, and no sima along the flanks. Here the gutter was formed by the turning up of the edges of the flattened "rain tiles" of the roof. Where the sima follows the slope of the roof, it is known as a raking sima. Generally the sima, as a gutter, was not used along the horizontal cornice.

• Cornice
• Corona