Greek Columns

Greek columns are among the most recognizable symbols of that great ancient society. Generations of visitors to Greece have been awed by the beauty of these structural supports. There are three main types of classical Greek columns:

Doric

Ionic

Corinthian

Doric columns are the oldest type. They are bulkier than the other two kinds, and plainer. Ionic columns developed after Doric. These became more slender in their appearance and a bit more ornate. The last column to develop was the Corinthian. Corinthian columns are by far the most ornate of the three.

Telling these columns apart is just a matter of knowing what to look for. Here's a quick cheat sheet.

Corinthian columns are perhaps the easiest to identify. To do this, look at the capital, or crown, of the column. Corinthian capitals are quite large and ornate, with flower and leaf-like carvings.

If the capital is plainer, then it is either Doric or Ionic. Ionic columns are a bit more elaborate than Doric. An Ionic capital would usually have two swirls (similar to a ram's horns) carved into it.

With no visible carving in the capital, you could safely assume the column is Doric.

You can also see the difference in the shafts of each type of column. Doric shafts are larger in diameter. They will also have very visible horizontal lines around the circumference every few feet where the stone was stacked.

Ionic shafts are more slender. They will appear to be the same size around all the way up. This, however, is a trick of the eye: the column is actually wider towards the middle.

Corinthian shafts are the thinnest of the three, and they are almost always fluted.

Now, it should be said that there are two lesser known types of columns, the Tuscan and the Composite, but these columns are relatively rare.

More information on columns