Greek

This was the style of architecture which first emerged in ancient Greece during the first millennium BC – reaching its fullest flowering in the city-state of Athens during the fifth century BC. It is a style of architecture which subsequently came to dominate the Roman world as we shall see in future units, and which, following its ‘rediscovery’ during the Renaissance, has come to form one of the main stylistic well-springs from which the modern Western tradition has drawn

Here Sutton explains that many of the decorative and stylistic details of classical buildings are ultimately derived from the time when the ancient Greeks built in wood. In other words, features such as ‘triglyphs’ and ‘guttae’ can be seen as elements of ancient wooden structures ‘petrified’ into stone

Commentary

I have thought that choosing such an modest Acanthus mtif to cap the columns seems somewhat perverse. I cannot find a persuasive medicinal, superstitious, spiritual or mythological basis for using it. I find Vitruvius's account that Callimachus spying an acanthus plant growing through a basket of a deceased maiden is little more than romantacised poetic license.

However, I am sure the Corinthians would have adopted elements of nature to blend in with the surroundings as well as stand apart from it. If the acanthus plant was a creeper or a plant known to grow in crevices then it could be argued that they were more closely copying from nature. It is none of these so I am left with the idea that the classical architects decided to co-opt it in its stylised form to give the column the visual (more feminine) and flexible effect they desired. Looking through pictures or Corinthian columns they vary from the simple to very elaborate.

Having said that the Scots chose its cousin, the thistle, as their national flower, so may be the Corinthians just liked it!