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The Corinthian Order (1035 pictures, 7 videos)

A lavish Order of Architecture used by the Greeks and Romans, and the most festive of the Greek Orders, associated with Beauty. The distinctive feature is the capital, which is about one-and-one-sixth diameters high, and very ornate, with acanthus leaves and caulicoli, each of which is surmounted by a calyx from which emerge volutes or helices supporting the abacus and the central foliate ornaments on each face of the abacus. Originally only the capital differentiated the Corinthian from the Ionic Order, but in Roman work the Corinthian entablature became rich in carved ornament. The architrave, for example, had many decorated mouldings, while the frieze was enriched with acanthus scroll and figured ornament. Cornices had sculptured coffers on the soffites, and elaborately ornamented modillions. Much egg-and-dart, bead-and-reel, dentil and florid decoration was in evidence. Shafts were fluted or plain, but in the Greek version of the Order they were fluted. Abaci have moulded concave faces, meeting at points, or with chamfered 'corners' over the volutes. A simpler form of the capital, found at the Tower of the Winds in Athens, has one row of acanthus leaves over which a row of palm leavesn but with this version the abacus is square on plan. The term Corinthian also seems to suggest an arrangement with more than four columns associated with the cavum aedium or cavaedium, or inner court of a house, and supporting the roof which allowed rain to drain through the open center (compluvium) into the tank or pool (impluvium).


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