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Meander pavement in the streets of Rhodes

In art and architecture, a meander is a decorative border constructed from a continuous line, shaped into a repeated motif. Such a design is also called the Greek Fret or Greek Key design, although these are modern words. The name "meander" recalls the twisting and turning path of the Maeander River. Other names are maíandros and meandros, except they are not very common outside of historically minded persons and, of course, the country of Greece. Among some Italians, these patterns are known as Greek Lines.

Meanders are common decorative elements in Greek art and Roman art. They appear on many friezes and at the top of some porticos. The design is common in present-day architecture as a neoclassical element. Although Greek eateries will almost certainly have Greek Keys decorating walls, menus et cetera, both Mexican and Chinese food menus and placemats frequently incorporate this style of fret. Many traditional buildings in and around China have almost identical geometric designs to meanders appearing on the outside of these structures.

Meanders were among the most important symbols in ancient Greece; they, perhaps, symbolized infinity and unity; many ancient Greek temples incorporated the sign of the meander. Greek vases, especially during their Geometric Period, were likely the genesis for the widespread use of meanders; alternately, very ocean-like patterns of waves also appeared in the same format as meandros, which can also be thought of as the Guilloché pattern. The shield of Philip II of Macedon was decorated with multiple symbols of the meander; the shield itself can be found in the museum of Vergina in Central Macedonia of Greece.

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Meander

• Illustrated Architecture Dictionary: Fret (a short description, with a list of links to photographs of meander designs in art and architecture)

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