Capital

Top of a column supporting beams.

Overview

Capitals, made of stone, feature decorative designs in classical and Gothic architecture, supporting entablatures.

Core Characteristics

• Structural and decorative.
• Order-specific designs.
• Classical and Gothic use.

Notable Examples

• Parthenon (Greece, 438 BCE, Doric capitals).
• Notre Dame (France, 1345, Gothic capitals).

Architectural Connections

• Classical: Structural focus.
• Civic: Temples.
• Classicism: Core movement.

Influence and Legacy

Led by Phidias, it shapes column aesthetics.

Related Concepts & Techniques

Stone Carving (technique), Proportion (theory), Column (element), Gothic Architecture (movement)