**Historical and Cultural Significance of Cornice:** – Found in various ancient civilizations like Egyptian, Iranian, Etruscan, and Roman architecture – Monumentalization in Etruscan and Roman architecture – Reflects historical and artistic influences – Demonstrates craftsmanship and surveying skills – Seen in various architectural styles globally – Showcased in sculptures and monuments **Architectural Elements and Types of Cornices:** – Part of columns and entablature in Classical architecture – Modern residential buildings feature box, close, and open cornices – Types include box, close, and open cornices – Cavetto cornices influenced neighboring regions and early Greek architecture – Obscure cornice varieties include architrave, bracketed, and modillion cornices **Cornice Returns and Window Treatments:** – Cornice return adds architectural detail to gable roofs – Types of cornice return include Greek return and soffit return – Window cornices are hard treatments along the top edge of a window – Soft cornices are padded and covered in cloth – Used to conceal mechanisms for opening and closing drapes **Literature and Publication References on Cornice:** – Detailed in books on residential construction and wood-frame house construction – Referenced in daily life depictions of ancient Egyptians – Mentioned in Grove Art Online for Iranian ancient architecture – Described in books on American and European architecture – Various publications by authors like Anderson, Thallon, Winter, Harris, and Spence **Construction Details and Architectural Descriptions:** – Detailed in historical texts, art publications, and construction guides – Illustrated in American architecture encyclopedias – Described in carpentry and building construction guides – Authority control databases list variations in different countries – Construction details published by Griffith and Farren in London