The Corinthian Order

The Corinthian order is one of the classical orders of columns in ancient Greek and Roman architecture. An order is a defined system in which a column, base, shaft, and capital have specific proportions and decorative characteristics. The Corinthian order differs from the earlier Doric and Ionic orders chiefly in its capital, which is decorated with acanthus leaves.

The Corinthian capital is tall and bell-shaped. It is encircled by two or three rows of acanthus ornaments, from which small spirals (volutes) emerge at the corners to support the superstructure. The shaft is typically fluted with long channels and rests on a base. Because the capital appears identical on all sides, this order could be readily applied to the corners of buildings.

Early History

The Corinthian order came after the Doric and Ionic, and is thought to have developed in the later period of ancient Greece. Initially, Greek builders used it mainly in interior spaces or smaller structures. The name is associated with the city of Corinth, but this historical connection is unclear and rests on later accounts.

The Romans made the Corinthian order the most common in their large buildings, such as temples, basilicas, and triumphal arches. They also combined Corinthian and Ionic elements, which gave rise to what is called the Composite order.

Formal Components

The order consists of three main parts: the base below, the column (shaft and capital), and the upper section called the entablature. The Corinthian entablature typically features elaborate ornamentation, including small brackets called modillions that project from the cornice. The proportional ratio of column height to diameter is notably higher than in the Doric order.

Later Revival

During the European Renaissance, architectural treatise writers who published works on the orders reinterpreted the Corinthian system with precise measurements. Subsequently, the Neoclassical movements of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries employed this order in government buildings, banks, and libraries across much of the world.