In linear ornament the identical decorative elements are settled down along some axis in regular intervals. Such ornaments can be indefinitely continued in both dirrections and possess a translation symmetry. If we move all the ornament along the axis, each decorative motive will be imposed on the next.

Linear ornament, except for the symmetry of translation, can also have another types of symmetry. Other symmetry types are inherited from the symmetry of the individual ornamental fragment.

There are seven types of linear ornament symmetry. To find all of them could be a good challenge.

The are very many different kinds of linear ornaments in different countries. One of the well known examples is Greek meander.