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The Complete Columns ClipArt gallery provides 56 illustrations of complete columns of various orders including Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian.

"a pilaster, especially a pilaster in certain positions, as one of a pair on either side of a doorway, or one standing opposite of a pillar."-Whitney, 1902

Anta

"a pilaster, especially a pilaster in certain positions, as one of a pair on either side of a doorway,…

A bundle-pillar is a column consisting of a number of small pillars round its circumference.

Bundle-Pillar

A bundle-pillar is a column consisting of a number of small pillars round its circumference.

Architecture of Cathredals in England. A clustered pier at the Worcester Cathedral, Early English style.

Clustered Pier

Architecture of Cathredals in England. A clustered pier at the Worcester Cathedral, Early English style.

Architecture of Cathredals in England. A clustered pier at the Exeter Cathedral, Early English style.

Clustered Pier

Architecture of Cathredals in England. A clustered pier at the Exeter Cathedral, Early English style.

Campaniform column.

Egyptian Column

Campaniform column.

Lotus-bundle column from the Temple of Thomthmes III, Karnak.

Egyptian Column

Lotus-bundle column from the Temple of Thomthmes III, Karnak.

"Columns are largely employed in the architecture of Egyptian temples. They are of various forms." —D'Anvers, 1895

Column

"Columns are largely employed in the architecture of Egyptian temples. They are of various forms." —D'Anvers,…

"Columns are largely employed in the architecture of Egyptian temples. They are of various forms." —D'Anvers, 1895

Column

"Columns are largely employed in the architecture of Egyptian temples. They are of various forms." —D'Anvers,…

The good effect of the Ionic capital is really only produced by the front-view. It seems calculated to be introduced between pillars and antæ, and not in a disconnected peristyle with with angle columns. In angle columns, however, the volutes are sometimes constructed in such a way that they meet at both sides diagonally.

Ionic Angle Column from the Temple of Minerva Polias at Athens, Side

The good effect of the Ionic capital is really only produced by the front-view. It seems calculated…

The Doric columns, which are short, powerful, and closely ranged together, in order to support the weight of the massive entablature, consist of the shaft and the capital, and rest immediately without base on the upper step, which serves as the ground-floor, or stereobate of the temple.

Doric Column from the Temple of Neptune at Paestum

The Doric columns, which are short, powerful, and closely ranged together, in order to support the weight…

Egyptian columns had shafts of three types: a) circular or cylindrical, b) clustered, c) polygonal or proto-doric. The first two tapered upward and sometimes had a slight swelling at the base (d).

Column Types

Egyptian columns had shafts of three types: a) circular or cylindrical, b) clustered, c) polygonal or…

An illustration of a decorative column.

Decorative Column

An illustration of a decorative column.

An illustration of Gothic architectural decoration of the column. The column illustrated shows how the capital, or top, and base were decorated with series of circles ranging in size.

Gothic Architecture Column

An illustration of Gothic architectural decoration of the column. The column illustrated shows how the…

An illustration of a column with a craving of Hathor. In Egyptian mythology, Hathor (Pronounced Hah-Thor) (Egyptian for house of Horus) was originally a personification of the Milky Way, which was seen as the milk that flowed from the udders of a heavenly cow. Hathor was an ancient goddess, and was worshipped as a cow-deity from at least 2700 BC.

Hathor's Column

An illustration of a column with a craving of Hathor. In Egyptian mythology, Hathor (Pronounced Hah-Thor)…

"A pillar or column. The use of the trunks of trees placed upright for supporting buildings, unquestionably led to the adoption of similar supports wrought in stone. As the tree required to be based upon a flat square stone, and to have a stone or tile of similar form fixed on its summit to preserve it from decay, so the column was made with a square base, and was covered with an abacus. Hence the principal parts of which every column consists are three, the base, the shaft, and the capital. In the Doric, which is the oldest style of Greek architecture, we must consider all the columns in the same row as having one common base, whereas in the Ionian and Corinthian each column has a seperate base, called spira. The capitals of these two latter orders show, on comparison with the Doric, a much richer style of ornament; and the character of lightness and elegence is further obtained in them by their more slender shaft, its height being much greater in proportion to its thickness. Of all these circumstances some idea may be formed by the inspection of the three accompanying specimens of pillars. The first on the left hand is Doric, the second Ionic, and the third Corinthian." — Smith, 1873

Columna

"A pillar or column. The use of the trunks of trees placed upright for supporting buildings, unquestionably…

Columna Rostrata and Column Trojana.

Columna

Columna Rostrata and Column Trojana.

Decorative columns

Columns

Decorative columns

Columns

Columns

Columns

Sections of Gothic Columns.

Columns, Gothic

Sections of Gothic Columns.

a, campaniform; b, clustered lotus column; c, simple lotus column; d, palm column; e, Hathor-headed column.

Types of Columns

a, campaniform; b, clustered lotus column; c, simple lotus column; d, palm column; e, Hathor-headed…

Composite order

Composite Order

Composite order

Corinthian order

Corinthian Order

Corinthian order

The Corinthian order is one of the Classical orders of Greek and Roman architecture, characterized by a slender fluted column and an ornate capital decorated with acanthus leaves and scrolls. Although of Greek origin, the Corinthian order was seldom used in Greek architecture.

Greek Corinthian Order

The Corinthian order is one of the Classical orders of Greek and Roman architecture, characterized by…

The decorated shaft column is designed with intarsia a form of wood inlaying. It is a German Renaissance design.

Column Decorated Shaft

The decorated shaft column is designed with intarsia a form of wood inlaying. It is a German Renaissance…

Doric order of the Parthenon, Athens.

Doric Column

Doric order of the Parthenon, Athens.

The earliest of the three Greek orders of architecture.

Doric Column

The earliest of the three Greek orders of architecture.

Grecian Doric Order.

Doric Order

Grecian Doric Order.

Doric order

Doric Order

Doric order

One of the three orders or organizational systems of Ancient Greek or classical architecture.

Doric Order

One of the three orders or organizational systems of Ancient Greek or classical architecture.

A diagram showing the titles for different types of architecture.

Elements of an Architectural Order

A diagram showing the titles for different types of architecture.

"In architecture, the swelling or outward curve of the profile of the shaft of a column. Entasis. e e, arcs of entasis." -Whitney, 1911

Entasis

"In architecture, the swelling or outward curve of the profile of the shaft of a column. Entasis. e…

Doric.

Doric Greek Column

Doric.

Illustration of an Ionic order Greek column.

Ionic Greek Column

Illustration of an Ionic order Greek column.

Illustration of a Corinthian order Greek column.

Corinthian Greek Column

Illustration of a Corinthian order Greek column.

"Greek Corinthian Style" — Morey, 1903

Greek Corinthian

"Greek Corinthian Style" — Morey, 1903

"Greek Doric Style" — Morey, 1903

Greek Doric

"Greek Doric Style" — Morey, 1903

"Greek Ionic Style" — Morey, 1903

Greek Ionic

"Greek Ionic Style" — Morey, 1903

Ionic Column

Ionic Column

Ionic Column

Ionic order of the Erechtheion, Athens.

Ionic Column

Ionic order of the Erechtheion, Athens.

One of the three Greek orders of architecture. It originated in mid-6th century BC.

Ionic Column

One of the three Greek orders of architecture. It originated in mid-6th century BC.

Grecian Ionic Order.

Ionic Order

Grecian Ionic Order.

Ionic order

Ionic Order

Ionic order

The Ionic order column originated in the mid-6th century BC in Ionia. The Ionic order column was being practiced in mainland Greece in the 5th century BC. The first of the great Ionic temples was the Temple of Hera on Samos, built about 570 BC–560 BC by the architect Rhoikos. It stood for only a decade before it was leveled by an earthquake. It was in the great sanctuary of the goddess: it could scarcely have been in a more prominent location for its brief lifetime. A longer-lasting 6th century Ionic temple was the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Greek Ionic Order

The Ionic order column originated in the mid-6th century BC in Ionia. The Ionic order column was being…

The Ionic order column originated in the mid-6th century BC in Ionia. The Ionic order column was being practiced in mainland Greece in the 5th century BC. The first of the great Ionic temples was the Temple of Hera on Samos, built about 570 BC–560 BC by the architect Rhoikos. It stood for only a decade before it was leveled by an earthquake. It was in the great sanctuary of the goddess: it could scarcely have been in a more prominent location for its brief lifetime. A longer-lasting 6th century Ionic temple was the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Greek Ionic Order (Side View)

The Ionic order column originated in the mid-6th century BC in Ionia. The Ionic order column was being…

"Corinthian Order. From the Monument of Lysicrates, at Athens." —D'Anvers, 1895

Corinthian order

"Corinthian Order. From the Monument of Lysicrates, at Athens." —D'Anvers, 1895

"Doric Order. From the Temple at Selinus." —D'Anvers, 1895

Doric Order

"Doric Order. From the Temple at Selinus." —D'Anvers, 1895

A, crepidoma or stylobate; B, column; C, architrave; D, tænia; E, frieze; F, horizontal cornice; G, raking cornice; H, tympanum of pediment; K, metope. In this and other cuts of this order, only the upper and lower parts of the shaft are shown, the intervening and greater part of the shaft being omitted, to save space.

Greek Doric Order

A, crepidoma or stylobate; B, column; C, architrave; D, tænia; E, frieze; F, horizontal cornice;…

"Ionic order. From the Temple of Athene (Minerva) at Priene." —D'Anvers, 1895

Ionic order

"Ionic order. From the Temple of Athene (Minerva) at Priene." —D'Anvers, 1895

The Ionic pilaster capital is a French Renaissance design. This pilaster is broader in proportion to its height and has large volutes of spiral scroll like ornaments.

Ionic Pilaster Capital

The Ionic pilaster capital is a French Renaissance design. This pilaster is broader in proportion to…

An illustration of a pillar.

Pillar

An illustration of a pillar.

A pillar from the Cathedral of Tours in France, circa 13th century.

Pillar from the Cathedral of Tours

A pillar from the Cathedral of Tours in France, circa 13th century.

"Columns are largely employed in the architecture of Egyptian temples. They are of various forms." —D'Anvers, 1895

Pillar and beam

"Columns are largely employed in the architecture of Egyptian temples. They are of various forms." —D'Anvers,…

At the lower part of the capital there frequently occurs an ornament of diminishing triangles, resembling the sheath from which the stalk of a plant springs. The same ornament often occurs at the base of the shaft, and seems to a certain extent borrowed from the shape of the lower portion of the papyrus plant. Other capitals imitate an unopened bud or seed-pod (here).

Pillar at the Palace at Luxor

At the lower part of the capital there frequently occurs an ornament of diminishing triangles, resembling…

At the lower part of the capital there frequently occurs an ornament of diminishing triangles, resembling the sheath from which the stalk of a plant springs. The same ornament often occurs at the base of the shaft, and seems to a certain extent borrowed from the shape of the lower portion of the papyrus plant (here). Other capitals imitate an unopened bud or seed-pod.

Pillar at the Temple at Edfu

At the lower part of the capital there frequently occurs an ornament of diminishing triangles, resembling…

The Ionic order was indebted for its earlier development to western Asiatic influence, notably to that of Persepolis; but its maturer beauties are to be attributed to a Doric source. Its main features are the same as in the Doric style; their forms, however, are different. The Ionic order has more mouldings, its forms are richer and more elegant, and, as a style, it is lighter and more graceful than the Doric.

Ionic Pillar in the Erechtheum at Athens

The Ionic order was indebted for its earlier development to western Asiatic influence, notably to that…

A greek pillar or corinthian design.

Corinthian Pillar

A greek pillar or corinthian design.