Relief orthostats from the Hittite period

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In classical Greek architecture, orthostates stand out as massive stone blocks that tower above their depth, typically embedded in the lower part of a wall where they appear to rise vertically rather than lie on their sides. The term "orthostat" is derived from this upright stance. In other contexts, English speakers often use the term orthostat instead. In Greek architecture, it's common for two orthostates to form a wall's thickness, one serving as the inner face and the other as the outer face. Above these blocks, a course of stones spanning the width of the wall is usually laid down, joining its two faces (a binder course) in the process.