Corinthian order

The Corinthian order is one of the five classical orders of columns. In the hierarchy of the orders it takes up the space between the ionic and the composites order.

Structure of the Corinthian order

The classical Corinthian order is as follows:

Base

Foundation and base of a building made ​​of the Corinthian order Stereobat (foundation ) and the Krepis ( base levels ). The foundation stored mainly in the soil and is only on the smoothed and semi- exposed top layer of euthynteria visible. The foundation follows the Krepis with its three stages. The top level is called stylobate and serves as a base for the emerging pillars.

Column

On Kompositer or Attic base with plinth, the ionic fluted column shaft with 24 flutings rises. The lower parts of the column shafts were sometimes faceted, like the flutes were filled in the lower third also with so-called pipe rods. The shaft carries the Corinthian capital. The Kapitellkörper called kalathos surrounded, two staggered, different levels of wreaths of eight stylized acanthus leaves. From the Eckblättern be called Caules who dismissed two plant stems to varying degrees each formed to develop. The stronger, volute -called stem growing opposition to the chapter lick, while the smaller, Helix -called stalk turns to the center of each visible surface of the Kapitellkörpers. The volutes support were, the top plate of the capital, the abacus, the sides of which are curved concave. A rosette adorns the center or Abakusblume each of the four Abakusseiten.

Entablature

The entablature is composed of three- fascia architrave and frieze of carved or smooth. After an intermediate member of dentils, a wave profile ( cyma reversa ) and egg and dart is, follows the Konsolengeison, about a Sima in the form of a cyma recta.

Historical development

The Corinthian order is the youngest of three architectural styles of ancient Greek architecture. Its development began in historical time towards the end of the 5th century BC with the " invention" of the Corinthian capital. Your canonical form apparatus, which made ​​a self-contained building code from the originally pure column order was binding but only in the middle of the 1st century BC before. Therefore, the individual steps of its development track well.

The oldest Corinthian capital is to prove to the interior design of the 400 BC finished the temple of Apollo at Bassae. The use of the Corinthian capital was initially limited to interior spaces ( Tholos of Delphi, Tholos of Epidauros, Temple of Athena Alea in Tegea ) and smaller structures ( Monument of Lysicrates - first appearance in the external architecture, Ptolemaion in Samothrace, Mausoleum of Belevi ).

The early examples of Corinthian columns are combined under Attic influence with Attic bases without plinth, with Ionic architrave in various forms (two, three fascia or smooth), with ionic Fries ( plain or carved ) and ionic cornices. From the Lysikrates Monument taught as a canonical link between frieze and dentil cornices.

By transferring the Corinthian column in the external architecture, you freed them first by their rigid binding to ionic entablature forms. Now are often combinations with Doric entablature, but reflect most scenic preferences. In southern Italy, mixed forms occur with terracotta entablatures on (Temple B in Pietrabbondante ).

It was only in the late 3rd century BC is the Corinthian capital found its way into the monumental temple architecture. However, proven and well dated in Athens in the exterior architecture of a temple it occurs only 174-164 BC at the Temple of Olympian Zeus on. Also in the Italic temple architecture, it is in the 2nd century BC input, such as the Corinthian Doric temple in Paestum Forum shows.

This temple is once again the nature of the Corinthian capital, depending on the landscape integration to be combined with both an ionic and a Doric entablature. The latter variant even met yet in the time of Augustus about the Augustus Temple of Philai in Egypt. Even for Vitruvius (IV ,1,1 -3) was the Corinthian order is still a pure order of columns that could be connected as desired with an ionic or Doric entablature.

It already came to 100/90 BC in Italy for connection of the Corinthian order with the Konsolengeison as a new canonical element ( Dioskurentempel in Cora ). As a result, continues in central Italy, especially in Rome, the classical Corinthian order by, as defined above. They met us at almost all urban Roman temples of the late Republic and early Principate as the Temple of Apollo in Circo or Mars - Ultor temple, but also in the Roman provinces as at the Maison Carrée in Nîmes and many more buildings. In combination, Attic, Asia Minor and Roman Italic elements of the Corinthian order is one of the main connecting designs of the Roman Empire architecture.

Until the late antiquity the Corinthian order in its canonical form is retained. With the rediscovery of ancient architecture and the onset of Vitruvius reception in the Renaissance and the appreciation of the Corinthian order sets in again, which is designed correctly modeled after Vitruvius. With magnificent buildings until well into the 19th century, the Corinthian order was used.

Begriffsherleitung

Vitruvius (IV ,1,9 - 10) provides the following anecdote about the origin of the Corinthian capital: A pristine Corinthian fell ill and died. Full of sorrow gathered her old nurse the toys that had particularly loved the deceased in their childhood, in a basket and placed it on the grave. So that the things would not come so quickly in the open air to damage, the nurse puts a stone plate to cover the basket. The basket was by chance on a Akanthuspflanze, sprang up which drives to the basket sides. Seeing this in passing Callimachus, a painter and sculptor of the 5th century BC and kept his inspiration for creating the Corinthian capital.

To what extent this history, the origin of the Corinthian capital Corinthian reflected as locally - Done ( apud Corinthios ) is not released. A widespread interpretation has the name on the material from which the first such capitals to have been made ​​, back: Corinthian Bronze. Especially Pliny ( nh 34, 13) is used to support this derivation. Pliny mentions the porticus Octavia in Rome Corinthian for their " brazen " capitals ( quae sit Corinthia appellata a capitulis aereis columnarum ). But the portico Corinthia was called because of the material, but not because of the form of their capitals. Philological evidence speak for a geographical derivation of the name, as early as the 3rd century BC the Greco - Hellenistic culture space is referred to as the Kapitellform korinthiourges ( Apollonius Rhodios frg.1, 7 P). Word formations with - ourges but always call the local origin of a shape.