Columns and pillars are one of the most important structural component of a building that transmit weight from one element to another element, columns are also known as compression member of a building .In architecture Columns refers to such structural element that has certain proportion and decorative feature. Different architectural era have printed their identities on this element too.
Through my blog I want to emphasis on Corinthian columns which was invented by the Greeks in ancient time period. It is also known as one of the most of ornate type of column among the Doric ,Ionic and Corinthian column.
Why it is called Corinthian column?
De Architectura’s author, Vitruvius, tells the story of a young girl’s death in Corinth. “A free-born maiden of Corinth, just of marriageable age, was attached by an illness and passed away,” he writes.
Vitruvius says the girl was buried near the root of an acanthus tree, with a basket of her favorite things. The next spring, leaves and stalks grew up through the basket. Callimachus, a Corinthian sculptor, walked past the tomb and was so impressed with the beauty he began to incorporate the intricate design onto column capitals. And, so (at least according to this story), the Corinthian column was born.
How they look.
Every column style have three common elements shaft , capital and pedestals. which were highly considered by the Greeks in Corinthians order.
Corinthian columns are the most decorative and the one that most modern people like the best. Corinthian columns also use an entasis (Entasis is the application of a convex curve to a surface for aesthetic purposes) to make the columns look straight. The shaft has slender flutes and the base is like the Doric. The capitals are very ornate with elaborate flowers and acanthus leaves below a small scroll. Ironically, the Romans used the Corinthian column much more often than the Greeks did.
