ClipArt ETC
"The upper plate of a column, beneath the architrave." — Williams, 1889

Abacus

"The upper plate of a column, beneath the architrave." — Williams, 1889

"In Greek Architecture, a capital on the corner column of a portico."-Whitney, 1902

Angle-Capital

"In Greek Architecture, a capital on the corner column of a portico."-Whitney, 1902

"Antoine Macault Reading his Translation of Diodorus Siculus to King Francis I. Designed by Holbein. Engraved by Geoffroy Tory?" -Cundall, 1895

Antoine Macault Reading his Translation of Diodorus Siculus to King Francis I

"Antoine Macault Reading his Translation of Diodorus Siculus to King Francis I. Designed by Holbein.…

A decorative divider dating back from ancient Assyria.

Assyrian Divider 2

A decorative divider dating back from ancient Assyria.

Column of troops with wagons marching through the woods.

Marching to the Battlefield - Ball's Bluff

Column of troops with wagons marching through the woods.

"Popularly, banister or ballaster, the name given to small shafts or pillars set in a line at short equal distances, and supporting a cornice or coping. These miniature pillars have generally either a pear-shaped swelling at the lower end, or consist of two pear-shaped pieces, places above each other, a ring of moulding being set between them." — Chambers' Encyclopedia, 1875

Baluster

"Popularly, banister or ballaster, the name given to small shafts or pillars set in a line at short…

Early type gothic column base from Halberstadt.

Base

Early type gothic column base from Halberstadt.

Late type gothic column base from Rouen, France.

Base

Late type gothic column base from Rouen, France.

The bottom; the part of a thing on which it stands or rests.

Base

The bottom; the part of a thing on which it stands or rests.

Illustration of a bishop sitting on an ornately decorated cathedra. A crosier, pastoral staff, rests against his left shoulder. The view is of the left side of the bishop and throne. There are columns in the background, to the right of the throne. A cathedral is a church that is the cathedra, or seat, of a bishop.

A Bishop Sitting on a Bishop's Throne Called a Cathedra

Illustration of a bishop sitting on an ornately decorated cathedra. A crosier, pastoral staff, rests…

"Candelabrum in S. Paolo Fuori." — Young, 1901

Candelabrum

"Candelabrum in S. Paolo Fuori." — Young, 1901

Capital from Lincoln Cathedral.

Capital

Capital from Lincoln Cathedral.

Capital from St. Peter's, Northampton.

Capital

Capital from St. Peter's, Northampton.

Capital from Gernnrode.

Capital

Capital from Gernnrode.

Capital from Wurttemberg.

Capital

Capital from Wurttemberg.

Capital from Tarragona.

Capital

Capital from Tarragona.

Capital from Tarragona.

Capital

Capital from Tarragona.

Voluted capitals from Haramston Church, Lines.

Capital

Voluted capitals from Haramston Church, Lines.

Scalloped-type capitals from New Shoreham Church.

Capital

Scalloped-type capitals from New Shoreham Church.

Capital from Canterbury Cathedral.

Capital

Capital from Canterbury Cathedral.

Anglo-Norman cushion capital.

Capital

Anglo-Norman cushion capital.

Twelfth century capital from the Cathedral at Naumburg.

Capital

Twelfth century capital from the Cathedral at Naumburg.

Twelfth century capital from Gelnhausen.

Capital

Twelfth century capital from Gelnhausen.

Unidentified German capital.

Capital

Unidentified German capital.

Early French Gothic capital from Sainte Chapelle.

Capital

Early French Gothic capital from Sainte Chapelle.

Fourteenth century French Gothic capital from the transept of Notre Dame, Paris.

Capital

Fourteenth century French Gothic capital from the transept of Notre Dame, Paris.

French Gothic capital from St. Martin des Champs, Paris.

Capital

French Gothic capital from St. Martin des Champs, Paris.

French Romanesque capital from St. Martin des Champs, Paris.

Capital

French Romanesque capital from St. Martin des Champs, Paris.

French Gothic capital from St. Martin des Champs, Paris.

Capital

French Gothic capital from St. Martin des Champs, Paris.

French Gothic capital with corner leaf from Notre Dame, Paris.

Capital

French Gothic capital with corner leaf from Notre Dame, Paris.

French Rayonnant capital.

Capital

French Rayonnant capital.

Capital from Salisbury Cathedral, England.

Capital

Capital from Salisbury Cathedral, England.

Capital from Lincoln Cathedral

Capital

Capital from Lincoln Cathedral

Decorated capital from Beverley Cathedral

Capital

Decorated capital from Beverley Cathedral

"The top of a column or pillar." — Williams, 1889

Capital

"The top of a column or pillar." — Williams, 1889

The columns in the ruins of Persepolis are circular and slender, and have capitals and bases. The capital generally consists of two half-horses or bulls, whose fore feet overlap the border of the shaft, and which are placed back to back.

Capital and Entablature from the Rock Tomb of Darius

The columns in the ruins of Persepolis are circular and slender, and have capitals and bases. The capital…

In some temples the pillars have, in lieu of capital, the face of a goddess, probably of Isis, with a drooping sacerdotal hood, and supporting a temple on the head. This face is repeated on four sides of the circular shaft.

Capital in the Temple at Denderah

In some temples the pillars have, in lieu of capital, the face of a goddess, probably of Isis, with…

The capitals of the columns display an immense variety. The most beautiful have a crater-like form, and appear like the projecting bell of a flower, with leaves standing out from the surface (here). In other instances the pillars are imitations of a palm tree, and have a smooth slender shaft, a neck-moulding of several rings, and then, without any intermediate architectural division, a capital formed of the graceful leaves of the palm.

Capital in the Temple at Edfu

The capitals of the columns display an immense variety. The most beautiful have a crater-like form,…

The capitals of the columns display an immense variety. The most beautiful have a crater-like form, and appear like the projecting bell of a flower, with leaves standing out from the surface. In other instances the pillars are imitations of a palm tree, and have a smooth slender shaft, a neck-moulding of several rings, and then, without any intermediate architectural division, a capital formed of the graceful leaves of the palm (here).

Capital in the Temple at Edfu

The capitals of the columns display an immense variety. The most beautiful have a crater-like form,…

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 (here). 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.

Capital Ornament in the Temple at Edfu

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

Figures a and b show the bell-shaped (campaniform) capital. Figure c is a palmiform capital.

Capital Types

Figures a and b show the bell-shaped (campaniform) capital. Figure c is a palmiform capital.

A bell capital with papyrus decoration.

Bell Capital with Papyrus

A bell capital with papyrus decoration.

"Byzantine Capital. The leading forms of the Byzantine style are the round arch, the circle, and in particular the dome." -Vaughan, 1906

Byzantine Capital

"Byzantine Capital. The leading forms of the Byzantine style are the round arch, the circle, and in…

"The Composite or Roman order was the outcome of the attempt to improve the Corinthian, of which it was in fact a somewhat free version." —D'Anvers, 1895

Composite capital

"The Composite or Roman order was the outcome of the attempt to improve the Corinthian, of which it…

The Egyptian capital is the upper termination of the column with opened papyrus flowers. It is found in Kom-Ombo an agricultural town in Egypt.

Egyptian Capital

The Egyptian capital is the upper termination of the column with opened papyrus flowers. It is found…

The Egyptian capital is the upper termination of the column with opened papyrus flowers. It is found in Philae an island on the Nile river in Egypt.

Egyptian Capital

The Egyptian capital is the upper termination of the column with opened papyrus flowers. It is found…

This Egyptian capital is the upper termination of the column with cinctured bundles of papyrus stems.

Egyptian Capital

This Egyptian capital is the upper termination of the column with cinctured bundles of papyrus stems.

This Egyptian capital is the upper termination of the column with cinctured bundles of papyrus stems. It is found in Luxor, Egypt.

Egyptian Capital

This Egyptian capital is the upper termination of the column with cinctured bundles of papyrus stems.…

Ptolemaic floral capital from Philae.

Floral Capital

Ptolemaic floral capital from Philae.

The Graeco-Doric capital is an antique design. It is found on the upper termination of a column.

Graeco-Doric Capital

The Graeco-Doric capital is an antique design. It is found on the upper termination of a column.

"The Doric Order is, in architecture, the second of the five orders, being that between the Tuscan and Ionic."—(Charles Leonard-Stuart, 1911)

Grecian Doric Capital

"The Doric Order is, in architecture, the second of the five orders, being that between the Tuscan and…

"The Doric Order is, in architecture, the second of the five orders, being that between the Tuscan and Ionic."—(Charles Leonard-Stuart, 1911)

Grecian Doric Capital

"The Doric Order is, in architecture, the second of the five orders, being that between the Tuscan and…

"The Doric Order is, in architecture, the second of the five orders, being that between the Tuscan and Ionic."—(Charles Leonard-Stuart, 1911)

Grecian Doric Capital

"The Doric Order is, in architecture, the second of the five orders, being that between the Tuscan and…

Lobed lotus capital from the Theban Oasis.

Lobed Lotus Capital

Lobed lotus capital from the Theban Oasis.

The Moorish capital is the upper termination design of a column found in the hall of two sisters Alhambra, Spain.

Moorish Capital

The Moorish capital is the upper termination design of a column found in the hall of two sisters Alhambra,…

The Moorish capital is the upper termination design of a column found in the hall of two sisters Alhambra, Spain.

Moorish Capital

The Moorish capital is the upper termination design of a column found in the hall of two sisters Alhambra,…

Palm capital from the Temple of Edfu.

Palm Capital

Palm capital from the Temple of Edfu.

A primitively ionic column.

Proto Ionic Capital

A primitively ionic column.

The Roman-Doric capital is an antique design. It is found on the upper termination of a column.

Roman-Doric Capital

The Roman-Doric capital is an antique design. It is found on the upper termination of a column.

Capitals from the chapter house of Southwell Cathedral.

Capitals

Capitals from the chapter house of Southwell Cathedral.