The stone columns of antiquity

A column is a vertical support with a circular or regular polygonal plan. It can be made of stone or marble, on which a roof rests. The column is composed of a base, a shaft and a capital. Egyptian architecture was one of the first to use columns as decoration, in floral stem, with capitals of varied style.

The ancient columns

The most elaborate columns of the ancient period are the Persian columns with a capital decorated with bulls. The ancient columns were used as pillars of the roofs inside the buildings.

This architecture of ancient columns was reused in the early Middle Ages. Columns are essential elements in Egypt, Rome, Greece and also in India. Columns are, generally, always fluted.

The Greek columns

Greek columnar architecture is arguably the greatest form of Greek art. Characterized by large stone temples such as the Parthenon Temple, the Temple of Zeus, the Temple of Athena Nike…

Architects of classical antiquity are also known for designing grand theaters, public squares, stadiums, and monumental tombs. Greek column architecture is traditionally divided into three periods including the Archaic, Classical, and Hellenistic.

Greek architecture has great importance, its logic and order, which gives temples designed of scheme based on a system of decoration. Depending on the type, capital and entablature of the column, its invention follows classical orders (Doric, Corinthian and Ionic). The architectural aspect of the Greek columns was decorated with friezes and statues of incomparable beauty.

Roman columns

The style of the Roman column has taken much from the Greek style, but the real legacy of the Romans is the monumental column. It was richly decorated by Roman architects. It is the column of the public squares of Rome, in the form of a large single tower of great height.

Also called commemorative columns, these Roman columns were mostly used to commemorate victories. The column of Marcus Aurelius, the Trajan's column or even the Nelson's column in commemoration of the Three Glorious Days. Compared to the Greek columns, the Roman column has less purity in its construction and is much simpler. The columns were sculpted in stone, the capitals placed on them. The Romans were masters in sculptures, they also created many roman statues with these same materials.

But to fill this side, the Romans bet on a remarkable solidity and practical use. Roman architecture often used the arch and then the vault.

What material for a stone column?

In fact, the first columns were made of wood. They were like the piles that came to support the roof. The stone column has its origin in the vertical character of tree trunks. It is an architectural element that is never completely cylindrical and rarely very vertical.

The stone column has become established in religious art, although it was previously more present among the Greeks, Romans and Egyptians.

The alabaster columns

Alabaster is a natural material widely used in sculpture, particularly to create ornamental vases, perfume vases, cinerary urns, etc.

There are 2 types of alabaster which correspond to 2 different types of minerals.

• Limestone alabaster or also called onyx marble or Egyptian alabaster has been used for a long time in the Middle East. It is a particularly translucent type of alabaster, like the Egyptian statues that the French Louvre Museum has.
• Gypsum alabaster is easier to work than Egyptian alabaster. In the past, alabaster was often used to make small statues and decorative bases on columns.

The marble columns

Marble has long been used in ancient architecture. Its firm and dense structure allowed for columns that were as strong as they were beautiful.

Ancient Greece had many marble quarries of different varieties. Greek temples were gradually built with marble columns. Under the influence of Greek architecture, ancient Rome also used marble as a model for building their temples.

The marble columns of Rome came from Greek quarries, which gave this material its precious value to the Romans.