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Corinthian order

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A beautiful Corinthian column inside the ancient Temple of Apollo at Bassae, showcasing intricate Greek architectural design.

The Corinthian Order

The Corinthian order is a very fancy style used in old buildings. It started with the Greeks and later the Romans loved it too. This style is the most decorated of the three main building styles. The other two are the Doric order and the Ionic order.

Corinthian columns have very pretty tops called capitals. These tops have tiny scrolls and leaves on them. The name Corinthian comes from the ancient Greek city of Corinth. People think a clever builder named Callimachus made the design after seeing leaves growing on a basket.

Many important buildings around the world use the Corinthian style. You can see it in places like the Pantheon, Rome and the United States Capitol. The style is loved for its beautiful details and makes buildings look very grand and special.

Images

The Pantheon in Rome is an ancient building with a large dome and columns.
An ancient Greek frieze from the Choragic Monument of Lysicrates, showcasing beautiful classical art and architecture.
An ancient Corinthian capital from the Temple of Vesta in Tivoli, showcasing intricate floral and fruit decorations.
An ancient Greek column capital from Tarentine art, showcasing detailed stone sculpture.
A reconstructed Corinthian capital from Xanten, showcasing classical architectural design.
An ancient Greek Corinthian capital, showcasing intricate floral design from the Archaeological Museum of Epidaurus.

Related articles

Doric order
Pantheon, Rome

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Corinthian order, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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