Column Terms



Abacus A slab that forms the uppermost division of the capital of a column.
Acanthus An ornamentation used on the Corinthian and Composite Columns, representing or suggesting the leaves of the acanthus.
Architrave The lowermost part of an entablature that rests directly on top of a column. Also called an epistyle.
Astragal A narrow convex molding often having the form of beading.
Attic Base Consisting of an upper and lower torus, the attic base is separated by a scotia (hollow concave molding) and fillets.
Composite Capitals Composite capitals, not even mentioned by Vitruvius, combined Ionic volutes and Corinthian acanthus leaves. The Echinus contains and egg-and-dart ornamentation between the volutes. This element is one difference between Corinthian and Composite.
Corinthian Capital The most common Roman order, the Corinthian capital has two rows of acanthus leaves, with stalks sprouting to form spirals (volutes) at the angles. Surmounting the capital is an abacus with an acanthus flower in the center of each side.
CPVC Cellular Polyvinyl Chloride is created by celuka, a foaming extrusion process that creates tiny air bubbles within the shape, resulting in a density less than half that of regular PVC (polyvinyl chloride).
Doric Capital The Doric Capital consist of an echinus, astragal, abacus, cyma reversa and fillet. While considered plain, the Doric Capital is similar to the Tuscan but with a few more added decorations.
Echinus A convex molding just below the abacus of a Doric capital.
Fluted Vertical parallel grooves on a classical architectural column.
Frieze In architecture the frieze is the wide central section of an entablature and may be plain or decorated.
FRP Columns (Fiberglass-Reinforced Polymer) A construction material used as a light-weight structural support. Its exact make up differs from product to product. Generally the plastic is either a either a thermoplastic or thermoset resin. And uses a reinforcing agent such as carbon, aramid or other reinforcing materials.
Greek Doric The oldest and simplest of the three main orders of classical Greek architecture, characterized by heavy fluted columns with plain, saucer-shaped capitals and no base.
High-Density Urethane High-Density Urethane is poured into molds in a liquid state, urethane then hardens to the shape of the mold. It is a closed cell structure that comes in a variety of densities and can be sawed, sanded, drilled and carved with ordinary carpentry tools.
Ionic Capital The Ionic Capital consist of an echinus and abacus crowned by a Cyma Reversa and fillet. The height is Two-Sixths that of the diameter of the shaft. The abacus and its fillets extend beyond the echinus on either side and are curl up into scrolls (volutes).
Non-tapered An extremely modern design, the non-tapered column is mentioned nowhere in any of the classical treatises of Architecture. The upper diameter and lower diameter remains the same throughout the column.
Pilaster A rectangular column with a capital and base, projecting only slightly from a wall as an ornamental motif.
Plinth a block upon which the moldings of an architrave or trim are stopped at the bottom.
Roman Doric A classical order dating from late Roman times, formed by superimposing Ionic volutes on a Corinthian capital. The composite volutes are larger, however, and the Composite order also has echinus with egg-and-dart ornamentation between the volutes.
Tapered In architecture the frieze is the wide central section of an entablature and may be plain or decorated.
Tuscan Base Consisting of a square plinth Eight-Sixths wide of the diameter and a thick torus set tangent to the edge of the plinth. The plinth of the Tuscan base should be circular in form and a small fillet called the cincture set in from the torus and capped with a conge which transitions the fillet to the shaft which is one diameter wide. The total height of the base is one-halve of the diameter.
Tuscan Capital The Tuscan Capital consist of an abacus, echinus, necking and astragal. Plain with no designs on the capital the Tuscan Capital’s height is half that of the shaft diameter.
Vignola Vignola, Giacomo da , 1507–73, one of the foremost late Renaissance architects in Italy. Universally known for his treatise (1562) on the five orders of architecture, it undertook to formulate definite and minute rules for proportioning the classical orders.
Vitruvius Marcus Vitruvius Pollio late 1st cent. B.C. and early 1st cent. A.D., Roman writer, engineer, and architect for the Emperor Augustus. In his one extant work, De architectura (c.40 B.C., tr. 1914), he discussed in 10 encyclopedic chapters aspects of Roman architecture, engineering, and city planning.
Volute A spiral scroll-like ornament used on an Ionic capital.