The frieze is the middle part of an entablature, situated between the architrave and the cornice. In classical architecture, a pediment is a low-pitched gable or triangular section produced by the two slopes of a temple's low-pitched roof, framed by horizontal and raking cornices and occasionally filled with sculpture. The word "pediment" comes from the Greek πέδιμα which means "footprint". In ancient Greece, before buildings were plastered over, their exterior walls would be painted with geometric designs in black and white, usually including a few colors such as red or yellow. These designs were called "footprints of the gods" because they prevented the wall from crumbling under the weight of snow and rain. In modern architecture, a pediment is often used instead of a window or door opening. It can also serve as a decorative element above a doorway or window opening, as on the West Front of the United States Capitol building. The term "frieze" is applied to any wide band or strip, especially one made of metal or other material like ivory or wood, used for decorating buildings or furniture. The word comes from the Latin friare meaning to fry or broil meat on a grill. The term "cornice" is applied to any upper edge or line where two surfaces meet, such as the top edge of a wall and the peak of a roof.