Column

A column is a vertical, freestanding pillar of wood, stone, brick or metal with round or polygonal cross-section. It differs by the cross section of the half- column and three-quarter column and the pilaster. From Circular pillars, it differs because it runs as a support member having a taper and sometimes with a Entasis .. columns can the beams, a vaulted arcades of a building or carry and thereby partially or completely replace the walls.

However, you can only serve to decoration, wear a votive offering or even as a monument to stand alone.

In classical Greek, the classical Roman and of modern architecture, the mapping of columns and entablatures associated with a system of five orders of columns has been set. This system was the binding architectural design canon until the beginning of the twentieth century. In the medieval architecture of Europe, own design methods for columns, but these were rejected after resumed from the 16th century architectural studies of ancient relics and ancient architecture brought to the model developed.

• 2.1 Egyptian columns
• 2.2 Babylonian, Assyrian, Persian columns
• 2.3 Indian columns
• 2.4 Greek and Roman orders of columns
• 2.5 Romanesque columns

• 7.1 Free-standing pillars
• 7.2 Special forms
• 7.3 Other Special Cases

Components of a classical column

Traditionally, a column is divided into three parts: The shaft rests on the pedestal, the base, and is surmounted by a capital. The column shaft is the only necessary component of a static column. The remaining architectural elements have mostly decorative role. In many architectural styles, the combination of base, shaft and capital fixed orders of columns that allow only little variation forms.

Base

The base, if any, in the classical orders of columns is often divided into two parts in a lower square plate, and the plinth. It distributes the load of the column to a larger base. The plinth is decorated in rare cases with ornaments or leaf motifs. In her more horizontal plates can rest serving the optical Structure of the base. The cross-section of the actual base is round. A series of grooves, Trochilus, and ridges, torus divides the base body and determines its profile. Number and sequence of the gorges and ridges is usually defined typologically, it is called depending on the of ephesischer, Sami, Attic, or Peloponnesian Kompositer base, to name just a few examples.

In the right figure, the base stands on a stepped base, the Stereobat or Krepis. Its top level is called stylobate. But columns can also - especially from the Hellenistic period - standing on a mostly cubic base or pedestal. Such increased base often is used when the column would look too bulky in full size, for example in multi-story colossal orders, but also for smaller porches or peristyles.

Shaft

The shaft of a column can be machined from a monolithic part, but it is usually composed of a plurality of columns in larger so-called column drums. In antiquity, the bearing surfaces of the drums were there mostly worked coplanar and border on all sides with a Anathyrosis to ensure maximum joint lock by absolute stability. In the Archaic period the column drums were connected by a central long wooden dowel in Bleiverguss. From the 5th century BC multipart forms plugs came on, passed the out set into the center of the drum inlet bronze pieces generally square cross-section, which in turn took up wooden or metal dowels and so connected the drums. In the 4th century BC this dowel shape was replaced by round center dowel mostly metal in Bleiverguss, supplemented on the sides to disc dowels or iron thorns.

The shaft can be bricked but also from so-called form bricks. Almost everywhere shaft forms are used, the taper upwards, yes, this tapering is a fundamental differentiator over the simple circular columns. In classic antique columns, the shaft also has a slight curvature apparent that Entasis on. However, this curvature exceeds never the lower column diameter. Rather, follows the taper of the column no linear progression, but the cutout of an arc, so that the taper accelerated by about one-third of the height.

The most important jewelry of the shaft is the fluting in the Doric, the Ionic and the Corinthian order. While Doric columns, the flutes with a sharp ridge abut separates a narrow footbridge, the fluted Ionic and Corinthian columns. Often the stems from the Hellenistic period can also be only partially fluted or fazettiert or the flutes were filled with round bars. Sometimes, but only the separating webs were also placed the stem, as it is observed at about stuccoed columns, for example, at the Gymnasium in Olympia. Especially with Ionic columns may be the carrier shaft foot figural reliefs, the so-called columnae caelatae. Alexandrian shafts are often adorned with an acanthus leaf tendrils out at the stem base. Tuscan column shafts in contrast, are completely jewelery and kannelurenlos. Other styles operate but just on the shaft luxuriant decoration. Pillars of the Byzantine, Romanesque and Gothic architecture, but also the German Renaissance are often coated with geometric or organic ornaments. Already on antique models back is also the possibility of the shaft just to leave the factory inches with lifting bosses, one intended only apparent incompleteness.

Capital

Intermediate shaft and entablature is the head of the column, the so-called capital. The ancient architecture knows, among many others, three basic forms of the capital: the Doric, the Ionic and the Corinthian capital.

Between capital and shaft is the column neck, the Hypotrachelion, usually sold by rings or notches from the shaft. It provides optically between the components and can with ornaments, for example, be a leaf or egg and dart decorated.

The central Kapitellkörper is formed differently depending on the order of columns, can easily be formed only as a bulb-like pillows, the echinus of the Doric capitals, as volutes supporting pads as in the Ionic order, or as a leaf decorated chalice, at about Corinthian capitals. In addition, there are numerous other possibilities for Kapitellbildung.

A square, sometimes ornamental ornate plate, the abacus, forms the upper end of the capital. It forms the support for the following beams. If the column does not carry horizontal beams, but an arch or a vault can be on the abacus another, trapezoidal cantilevered component, the fighter. He has mainly static function because it passes the pressure of the vault to the center of the column and thus protects the corners of the capital.

History of columns forms

Egyptian columns

The oldest columns are preserved in Egypt. Although they are made of hewn stone, imitating shapes as they arise with reeds in building. Porticoes ( hypostyle ), approximately at the Luxor Temple, or the Temple of Dendera, were supported by monumental columns. The very solid looking pillars were richly painted with hieroglyphs and sculptures.

There are four types of columns distinguished: lotus columns, similar to the capital of a stylized lotus flower; Papyrus columns, which seem to be wrapped with strips of papyrus and palm pillars, whose capitals palm leaves same. Neck and capital imitate girded bundle of twigs or reeds. The capital is either closed bud -like, tapering upward (closed capital ) wider or bell-shaped (open capital ). Even with the faces of gods decorated cushion capitals were used. Add to this the protodorischen columns, which has received the name for its similarity to the " Doric " column ( eg, at Deir el- Bahari from the time of Hatshepsut ).

Babylonian, Assyrian, Persian columns

The columns in the centuries around 500 BC were used in Assyria, Babylonia and Persia, may be viewed as pre- Greek columns forms; partially but they were imported directly from Greece. This slim, tall columns with fluting are already popular, which are crowned by uniformly designed capitals. The Persian scrolls were probably brought from ionic builders to Persepolis. Other surviving capitals are molded with horse or bull heads.

Indian columns

Apart from - not received - to be wooden models seem to be the earliest Indian columns freestanding monumental pillars of the 3rd century BC have been (→ Ashoka pillar ). You are probably modeled on ancient Greek models. The Buddhist and Hindu architecture in India could never quite decide between columns and pillars. Were already in the early Buddhist cave temples of India - half pillar-like - columns carved out of the rock. Depending on the available funds of the founders of the most octagonal hewn shaft base and kapitelllos or has a round or square base, a ( partial) kanelierte shaft and usually ends in an inverted lotus flower capitals, and later also in pillow-shaped amalaka - capitals; the fighter blocks are then often worked figuratively. The 4th from the / 5 Built century - mostly Hindu - freestanding temple (→ Gupta Temple ) use partially Persian influenced by column or pillar-like structures mainly in the atria ( mandapas ). A heyday experience -turned stone pillars in the 12th/13th century in the Hoysala temples of South India. Later columns confront pillars into the background.

Kanheri - Cave No. 3

Ajanta - Cave number 26

Karli - Cave Temple

Tigawa - Kankali Devi Temple

Halebid - Hoysaleshwara Temple

Hampi - Pattabhirama Temple

Greek -Roman orders of columns

The order of columns includes, in addition proportioning, design and ornamentation of classical columns and their position to one another and to the rest of the building, as well as the consequent arrangement of the entablature and its execution.

The Tuscan order is a Roman - Latin variant of the Doric order with mostly unkanneliertem column shaft and a base.

The Doric order is the oldest of the Greek orders of columns. She has comparatively squat upwards significantly tapered columns, with a clear 20 Entasis and most fluting. The column is not based directly on the substructure, the stylobate. The shaft carries at the top end at least one horizontal circumferential notch and carries a structured into three areas capital, consisting of the Hypotrachelion, the inconspicuous, also fluted columns neck, the echinus, a bead pillows, and the abacus, the final square cover plate on the the entablature rests.

The Ionic order has slender pillars, tapering only slightly. The 20 to 24 separated by webs fluting are grooved deeper and terminating short of the column foot and head in a round. They stand on a base. The capital of the column is more complex than the Doric and forms a double spiral shape, the volutes.

The Corinthian order evolved relatively late from the 5th century BC At first only from the Corinthian capital consisting, which was placed an ionic column shaft together with the base, they only acquired in the 1st century BC the status of a self closed order of columns. Previously they could be combined with ionic or Doric entablature. Your pillars are slimmer and taller than Ionic columns; among floral scrolls their capitals are also two rings of acanthus leaves.

As Kompositordnung in connection with orders of columns is defined as the combination of a largely Corinthian entablature wrong with the composite capital, which is a fusion of the leaf wreath Corinthian capitals with volutes ionic Diagonalkapitelle. The only developed in Roman times composite capital here is richly decorated and has larger volutes than those found on Corinthian capitals.

See also: Greek Architecture, Roman Architecture

Romanesque columns

Romanesque columns have a base that has a square base and is transferred upwards in a circular top. The triangular gusset that arise here are, sometimes decorated with leaf shapes ( Eckblätter ) or figures. The shaft is sometimes rotated spirally or decorated with diamond patterns, etc. (eg, Cathedral of Durham ( England), Altar of San Salvador de Cantamuda (Castile ) Church ). A strange and extremely rare Romanesque pillar shape represent the beast pillars, whose shaft is partially or completely covered or replaced by animal figures - the only surviving example in Germany is the beast pillar in the hall Crypt of the Freising Cathedral.

In Romanesque columns rows value is often placed on ensuring that columns and capitals are individually designed. The capital of Romanesque columns as the base cube- shaped, with the bottom edges are rounded in order to connect to the circular cross section of the column. Romanesque capitals are often decorated with figures or foliage. Romanesque some Gothic cloisters or colonnades often have double rows of columns.

Double columns and rows of columns

Statically mostly unnecessary, but as particularly representative pairs or arranged in groups of three and groups of four columns and the sequence of columns in a portico or a Portalgewände apply. Both came sporadically before in ancient times and amplified in medieval cloisters or in the portal zones of churches and experienced in the architecture of the Renaissance and the Baroque, a new period of prosperity.

San Miguel Arcangel ( Sotosalbos ) - Portico

Argenton- les- Vallées - Romanesque portal

Granada - The Alhambra Court Of Lions

Vicenza - Palladian Basilica

Bonn - Koblenz Gate

Solomonic columns

As, Solomonic columns ' are referred to a fictitious inner axle turned columns, equipped with which, according to tradition, the Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem. The reliefs of Trajan's Column and the Column of Marcus Aurelius in Rome were arranged spirally and many Roman columns were provided with turned Kanelüren (eg at the Theatre of Segobriga ). A few Romanesque columns are rotated around each other or also have a spiral ornamentation (for example, in the cathedral of Durham or at the altar of San Salvador de Cantamuda church).

In the French (Jacques Androuët Ducerceau ) and Spanish ( Juan Bautista Villalpando ) architectural theory of the 16th century is one of Solomon pillars order ' postulates (→ weblink). Ultimately, however, it was Gianlorenzo Bernini, who with his incurred in 1624 canopy over the grave of Peter in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, the model for a variety of twisted columns of the Baroque period created, the esp. in Spain churrigerersken style and colonial baroque both portal facades as well as altarpieces to play an important role.

Columns in modern times

(On the use of columns in an architectural context, see the main article order of columns )

In Renaissance architecture, especially since Palladio, not only palaces and office buildings are accented with columns and upgraded their facades, but also the Christian churches are pre- hidden anti ish temple fronts.

"Here is the inflation of the column that was once holy and sacred buildings was reserved until the 19th century, they imagined exchanges and stations begins. "

The columns do not remain reserved for the architecture alone: motives and rules of the pillars books are more adapted even by furniture makers as a by architects and implemented in practice.

Designs

The distance between the columns in a row of pillars axes is referred to as Achsweite or yoke, the clearance between the columns at their lower diameter than intercolumniation.

A façade with columns that extend over several floors of a building is called a giant order and is mainly used for optical patterning of the façade.

In addition to the freestanding column ( column -free ), there are only partially protruding Blend column which can be formed as a semi- column or three-quarter column. They can be grouped into bundles, which are found especially in the medieval architecture. Here one also speaks of services or service bundles of half or three-quarter columns that are preceded by a pillar and support the load of the vault at least partially. If a free column between two wall parts concentrated, one speaks of a Ricetto form or Ricettoarchitektur.

Designs, in which columns were used with preference are: temple and portico, colonnade and arcade portal and propylon.

Not pillars

In modern architecture, columns tend to have less the role of a supporting function. In many cases assigned in architecture in our time the column a jewelry character and the column evolves into another type of facade or interior decor. By eliminating the need for supporting optional attribute of a column are increasingly non-load bearing columns are used. A special form of a non-load bearing column, for example, the hollow column that is made ​​of modern concrete blocks in half parts, and the novel through this manufacturing technology as well as can also be installed to decorate boarding. Another advantage of the hollow columns is, inter alia, their lower production cost as their significantly lower weight.

Freestanding columns

In certain forms pillars occur as single monuments. So were the oldest surviving Ionic capitals to freestanding columns that were set up as Weihgeschenkträger in sanctuaries. Another, existing since ancient Roman times form is the triumph column or Victory Column (see List of Roman triumphal columns). It is often used as a representative monument of important statesmen or battles won in public places. Triumphal columns are often designed as a stand-alone building, which is accessible from the inside. The most famous examples are the Trajan's Column in Rome and the Marcus Aurelius Column, both of which are encircled by a spiral frieze of pictures.

Classicism had recourse at this Roman form of the triumphal monument and incorporated it into large-scale urban designs. Here Napoleon, a triumphal column on the type of Trajan's Column was built on the Place Vendôme in Paris was ( completed in 1810 ) as a model. Other famous classical triumphal columns are the Admiral Nelson's Column at Trafalgar Square in London (1843 ), the Ludwig column in Darmstadt (1844 ) and the Berlin Victory Column (1873 ).

An interesting variant, which shows that the style elements used can also be used differently, this is the Munich peace angel who, although being the generals of the German - French war of 1870 /71 and whose victory is positive, unlike previous victories columns but the subsequent peace is dedicated.

Not in every case, it is in a free-standing pillar at a memorial. They are also available with almost functional significance. These include the so-called advertising column.

Heliodorus pillar in Vidisha ( India) ( around 100 BC )

Column of Trajan, Rome (112 AD)

Iron Pillar, Delhi ( India) ( 400 AD )

Nelson's Column, London ( 1843)

Berlin Victory Column (1873 )

Independence Column, Mexico City (1910 )

Other monuments, which consist of free-standing pillars:

• Jupiter column
• Way of Human Rights

Special shapes

In many buildings of antiquity, but also the Baroque and Art Nouveau sculptures replace the columns. Female figures are thereby called caryatids, Kanephoren or Koren; male, depending on the posture atlases ( with stretched upward arms which support the entablature ) or Kouroi ( in an upright position with applied arms).

Other special cases

Partly also single components are called because of their vertical form as a column, even if they lack the base and capital:

• The listed protective air column in Osnabrück (Lower Saxony) ventilated an underground toilet facilities.
• Slender high shrines are often also called " Betsäule ".
• As a statue monuments with statues are called because of its sleek shape.
• In 1855 the advertising column of the Berlin Ernst Litfaß printer was invented as an advertising space.
• Plague, a Marian column and similar monuments
• To specify the distances served Postmeilensäule
• The fuel pump (or pump ) has its name because of its original slim round shape
• With " Bismarcksäule " Monuments are designated, who have the Bismarck tower design "Götterdämmerung ," the architect Wilhelm Kreis as a model.

Electorate of Saxony Postmeilensäule in Neustadt ( Sachsen), which is structurally is an obelisk

Columns at a Mexican church