One of the things that you subconsciously do when you travel is notice things. You feel good when you are:
- In a hotel room that is elegantly or ergonomically designed;
- In a hotel lobby with an elegant space;
- Sitting in a cafe with an interesting or elegant atmosphere;
- Sitting in a train station with a high ceiling beautifully designed with majestic column structures;
- Walking around a city being inspired by its people and buildings.
It is all because of architecture — and the more you know, the more interesting what you are looking at becomes.
So with all of that said, here is an Ignorant Traveler’s Guide to architectural columns.
Five Column Types — or ‘Orders’
There are 5 basic columns — or ‘orders’ as they call them: Doric, Ionic, Corinthian, Tuscan, and Composite.
Doric |
The Doric ‘order’ came first. It originated in the western Doric region of Greece. It is the simplest of the orders of columns.
The top of the column — or its ‘capital’ — was a simple circular form, with some moldings, under a square cushion that is very wide in early versions, but later more restrained. The Doric column was popular in the Archaic Period — from 750–480 BC — in mainland Greece. It is used in the Parthenon in Greece, amongst many, many other structures. |
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Ionic |
Came after Doric, and are more slender and ornate than the Doric style. Ionic columns have scroll-shaped ornaments (called ‘volutes’) at the top (or ‘capital’ that sits at the top of the column shaft). Ionic columns are said to be a more feminine response to the earlier, masculine Doric order. |  |
Corinthian |
The Corinthian order of columns came after the Ionic. They are even more ornate than the Ionic columns — the Greeks and Romans started really embellishing, probably due to having better stone-carving technology.
Notice that the Corinthian column (right) has fluted columns. The top (or ‘capital’) is elaborate, decorated with acanthus leaves and scrolls. The Corinthian order is named for the Greek city-state of Corinth. According to architectural historian Vitruvius, however, the column was created by the sculptor Callimachus, an Athenian, who drew acanthus leaves growing around a votive basket of toys. The Romans embellished in their own way. |
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Tuscan |
When classical architecture was revived during the Renaissance, the Tuscan order was established in Italy — and later the Composite order (below). Both were variants of the Corinthian order.
The Tuscan order is characterized by a top that is round with unornamented bands (like the Doric column), a shaft that is slender and smooth — without flutes or grooves, and a base that is simple. A Tuscan column is usually more slender than a Doric column — a Doric column is stockier and usually without a base. Also, the shaft of a Tuscan column is smooth, versus a Doric column that usually has flutes (or grooves). More on Tuscan columns. |
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Composite |
The Composite order of column also was established by the Romans in Italy during the Renaissance.
It is a mixed order, combining the volutes that were at the top of the Ionic order (its capital) with the acanthus leaves of the Corinthian order. There is generally some ornament placed centrally between the volutes. Some more info on the Composite Order. |
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Equipped with this knowledge, you can now more fully appreciate the architecture around you. Bookmark this page and refer to it as you navigate the world going forward.
Quiz yourself on columns and architectural styles that you encounter.
For example: what kind of columns are below — holding up the Post Office on 34th Street in NYC?
How about these columns, on the interior of Union Station in Washington DC?
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