Greek Architectural Orders: Column Capitals Coffee Mug

When the Ancient Greeks constructed temples thousands of years ago, they were very precise in their layouts and measurements for every aspect of these buildings. There were three main architectural "orders" known as: Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian. The differences in the styles are most easily recognized in the column capitals (the decoration on top of the columns) and have been used in architecture ever since. The Doric column capital is the simplest, and is formed from a block-shaped slab, the abacus, and a circular 'cushion', the echinus. The Ionic column capital comprised three parts: the echinus and the abacus (which are proportionately thinner than those on the Doric column capital and usually have carved decoration), and the volute which terminates in eyes. The Corinthian column capital is a variant of the Ionic style and is essentially a sculpted composition that takes the form of a basket that is surrounded by acanthus leaves. The whole composition is crowned by an abacus with concave sides and relief decoration. (source: Dimitris Plantzos "Greek Art and Archaeology c. 1200-30 BC" and http://arthistoryblogger.blogspot.com/)