Roman Columns: Doric, Ionic, Corinthian

In the classical era, one can see that it was a time of great architectural acievements, where we see men’s ingeniuity at its best when it comes to architecture. And the centre stage for all this evolvement was in Greece having the Parthenon in Athens as one on the most famous.

As part of the ingeniuities made, were the coloumns’ deseigns. We see that three types of columns were started being produced, those Doric, Ionic and Corinth.

Doric

Doric columns are the simplest of all three designs, one of the strongest and even the oldest. It is mainly composted by a capital (the top, or crown) made of a circle topped by a square, the shaft (the tall part of the column), which has 20 sides, all plain.

When it comes to design, it is good that there is no base. It is very plain and like most Greek styles, it compliments well with the façade architecture with their rectangular shape. Other parts of the column include the frieze, the metopes which are plain, smooth stone section between the triglyphs; of which are a pattern of 3 vertical lines between the metopes.

Ionic

Ionic columns were more decorative and taller than Doric Columns, making them look slender. Some of the features of the columns were the flutes, which are lines carved into the column from top to bottom; the entasis, which is like a lump in the columns to make them look straight, even when they are viewed from a distance, ignoring perspective. Other parts of the columns were the frieze, which acts like a plain; the bases which were when compared to the rest of the column; and Ionic capitals, which are mainly composed of scrolls above the shaft.

Corinthian

The Corinthian order is the most decorative of the three Classical Styles’ columns types and one which was mostly used, even if done today. In the Corinthian style, entasis are also used to make the shafts look straight. The Corinthian capitals have flowers and leaves below a small scroll, which make them nicely decorated and even interesting. The shaft of the column most of the time have flutes. When it comes to the base, is like the Ionian Columns. Unlike the Doric and Ionian cornices, which are at a slant, the Corinthian have flat roofs.

Roman Columns: Doric, Ionic, Corinthian

Roman Columns. 2014. Roman Columns. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.tribunesandtriumphs.org/roman-architecture/roman-columns.htm. [Accessed 02 November 2014].