We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Arts

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

In Architecture, what are the Different Types of Column Capitals?

By S. Mithra
Updated: May 23, 2024
Views: 22,335
Share

Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian are the primary type of capitals found in classical Greek columns. A capital is the crowning, decorative part that transitions from the main structure to the supporting masonry. As relics of the Classical world, they can help to date buildings and understand architecture.

Like those of all Greek columns, Doric capitals are comprised of a rectangular slab above a circular one. Made famous by the Greek Parthenon, this style stands plain and smooth. Their abacus, the rectangular crown, is often a single piece of marble. The echinus, the circular slab, is sometimes carved with figures of the gods. Created as early as 600 BCE, they are sturdy and elegant.

Contemporaneous with Doric, Ionic columns are a slightly more decorative alternative. Their most distinctive feature is their scrolls, called volutes. That shape resembles a piece of paper rolled up from both ends resting on the top of the columnade, with an oculus, or eye, at the spiral's center. The volute was inspired by the curling ringlets of the goddess Diana. The ornamental molding, the cymation, shows a series of beaded motifs called egg-and-tongue or egg-and-dart between the volutes. An example of this type can be seen on the Erechtheum temple in Greece.

Corinthian capitals are the most elaborate style. They borrow volutes from the Ionic, accenting the four corners of the abacus. On the strips of decorative molding, called modillions, spring acanthus leaves, palmettes, and even rosettes. Romans, more than Greeks, utilized this style, starting in the mid-4th century CE. A sculptor was supposedly inspired by something he saw at a tomb. A young maiden died during winter, and her nurse placed a basket of her belongings by her grave, covered by a tile to protect them. She happened to put it on top of a dormant acanthus vine. Come spring, the vine pushed through, surrounding the basket with leaves and curling the sides of the tile.

During Greek architectural revivals, two other related capitals decorated buildings: Tuscan and Composite. Like the Doric, the Tuscan is very plain. Composite capitals combine Ionic and Corinthian styles. There are a few non-Greek capitals associated with other architectural movements. A medieval column used historiated capitals to depict stories or emphasize symbolic meaning through carved animals, birds, and people in the 11th and 12th centuries. During the first Gothic period, a crocket capital, based on the Corinthian, used tiers of clusters of foliage.

Share
Musical Expert is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
By rosequartz — On Jun 18, 2011

Another ornate decorative column, even more ornate than the Corinthian style is the Solomonic column. It has a twisted, spiraling cylinder and is quite rare.

One example of the Solomonic column (also known as the Barley Sugar column) can still be seen inside St. Peter's Basilica.

Share
https://www.musicalexpert.org/in-architecture-what-are-the-different-type-of-column-capitals.htm
Copy this link
Musical Expert, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

Musical Expert, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.