Ancones Segesta, Sicily, 1998 To the left of this photo, rectangular elbows or ancones (ang-CONE-ees) protrude from the centers of the stones in the second and third courses of the stereobate, in the direction facing the viewer. A single elbow is called an ancon (ANG-con). Ancones are attachments for wrapping rope. They were left on opposite sides of the block when it was cut from the quarry, and smoothed off once the block had been placed in its final position in the temple.