A Zoophorus in Medieval architecture is a sculptured frieze between the architrave and cornice with a continuous bas-relief of animals, fabulous beasts, creatures from Hell, sea monsters, centaurs, mermaids, unicorns and Zodiac signs.
An example can be found in the Our Lady of the Assumption Cathedral in Parma, Italy.
The term comes from the Greek, meaning "bearing an animal". Hence a zoophoric column is a pillar supporting the figure of an animal.