Pinnacle Definition - What it is, Meaning and Concept

Even Latin must leave to find the etymological origin of the term pinaculo that now occupies us.It comes from the word "pinnaculum", the highest area of ​​a roof, which is made up of two distinct parts: The word "pinna", which means "wing", and the suffix "-culum", which was instrumental in character.

Pinaculo is the upper and higher part of a temple or other building .It is a building element characteristic of the gothic architecture , although it is also extended to other styles.

For example: "I am fascinated with the pinnacle of the cathedral" , "A man threw himself from the pinnacle of the Church of San Andres and is in serious condition" , "The architect stated that he has already defined how he will develop the construction pinnacle" .

The pinnacle, therefore, is the terminal ornament of a Building .It usually has a pyramidal or conical shape, with various ornamentations.The most common pinnacles are raised in stone , although it is possible to find lead pinnacles.

As for the aesthetic, the pinnacle manages to stylize the image of the building and provides a feeling of greater height.However, this element also fulfills a function in the constructive, since it concentrates the oblique forces that come from the arbotantes and, by increasing the vertical force, avoid lateral thrusts and the destabilization of the walls.

This is especially important in the Gothic buildings , whose walls are very high and have numerous openings.Therefore, these walls do not have a great resistance to counteract the weight of the roof.they manage to improve the stability of the building, avoiding the curvature of the walls or even the collapse.

However, we cannot ignore that in various corners of the world, although they share these essential characteristics, we find other types of similarly significant but differently shaped pinacles.Thus, for example, in Seville in numerous constructions There are historical ornaments of that kind, of which we can highlight the following signs of identity: • They are made in glazed ceramic • They are presented both with conical and pyramidal shape, however, there are also with vase aesthetics and even with form of pineapple • Within the regionalist architecture of Andalusia at the beginning of the 20th century, it should be noted that the pinacles acquired great relevance.Many of them were made by the Sevillian architect Anibal Gonzalez Alvarez-Ossorio, who created them for two key spaces of the City: the Plaza de Espana and the Maria Luisa Park.

In a symbolic sense, the most sublime part of an immaterial thing or a science is known as a pinnacle: “Experts believe that this discovery is the pinnacle of modern chemistry and it will give space to a new era of knowledge ”.

In the field of games and video games there is also a famous pinnacle.It is the Vortice Pinacle, which becomes a dungeon for players of levels between 82 and 84.On the Elemental Plane of the Air is where it is located within what would be the World of Craft game.

In Spain and other countries, the pinnacle is a game of cards for four players that uses two American decks.