Greek Columns in America

By: Sarah Griffin

Doric Columns

Doric columns are the simplest columns. The design is plain, but powerful-looking. The top is made of a circle topped by a square, and it does not have a base. The shaft is very plain, and it has 20 sides. It looked great on the long and rectangular buildings that the Greeks made. The frieze, which is the area above the column, has simple patterns. Above the columns, there are triglyphs and metopes. The metopes are plain and smooth.

Doric Columns Continued

The triglyphs have a patterns that has three vertical lines which are between the metopes. The order from bottom to top was the shaft, the capital, the architrave, the frieze, and the cornice.

Doric Columns- Example #1

The State Capitol in Columbus, Ohio

Doric Columns- Example #2

The Clark County Courthouse in Cleveland, Ohio

Ionic Columns

The shafts of the Ionic columns are taller than the shafts of Doric columns, which makes the columns look slender. They also had lines carved into them going from top to bottom, which were called flutes. The shafts had entasis, which is a bulge in the columns that make them look straight even at a distance. The frieze is plain. The bases are big and look like a set of stacked rings. The capitals have scrolls above the shaft.

Ionic Columns Continued

The Ionic columns are more decorative than the Doric columns. The order from bottom to top is the base, then the shaft, then the capital, then the architrave, then the frieze, then the cornice.

Ionic Columns- Example #1

Memorial Hall in Springfield, Ohio

Ionic Columns- Example #2

The Cuyahoga County Courthouse

Corinthian Columns

Corinthian columns are the most decorative, and also the one most modern people prefer. Like the ionic columns, they also use entasis to make the columns look like they are straight. The capitals have a small scroll that has flowers and leaves above it. The shaft has flutes on it. The base is like the bases of the Ionic columns; it's big and looks like a set of stacked rings. The roofs are flat.

Corinthian Columns Continued

The order from bottom to top is the base, then the shaft, then the capital, then the architrave, then the frieze, then the cornice.

Corinthian Columns- Example #1

The Benevolent Protective Order of Elks building in Liverpool, Ohio

Corinthian Columns- Example #2

Sears Magnolia Canton, Ohio

Tuscan Columns

Tuscan columns are very plain. The shaft is plain, and the capital and base are very simple. The frieze is also very plain.

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Tuscan Columns Example

Composite Columns

Composite columns combine Ionic and Corinthian columns. The capital is usually Corinthian, and it has the scrolls like the Ionic columns.

This building is in Greece, but I am not sure what building it is or where.

Composite Columns Example

References

Slides 2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 11, 14, and 16:● cmhpf.orgSlide 4:● About.com Art HistorySlide 5:● Clark County, OhioSlide 8:● Springfield Ohio HistorySlide 9:● The Alexander Hamilton Institute

Slide 12:● Ohio River LifeSlide 13:● Sears HomesSlide 15:● That Old House blog

Slide 16:● The Free Dictionary

References Continued

Slide 17:● ehow.com

The end!