Relief orthostat with spearmen

myminifactory

In classical Greek architecture, massive stone blocks known as orthostates are typically constructed in the lower part of a wall. These squared blocks stand upright rather than lying on their sides, earning them their name. In some contexts, the term orthostat is used instead of orthostate. A distinctive feature of Greek architecture is that pairs of orthostates often form the thickness of a wall, with one block serving as the inner face and the other as the outer face. Above each course of orthostates, it's common to lay a course of stones spanning the width of the wall and joining its two faces, creating a binder course that holds everything together.