What Are Corinthian Columns?

Corinthian columns are the most ornate of the three column orders of ancient Greece: Doric, Ionian, and Corinthian. Defined by their elaborate capitals full of acanthus leaves, these columns are the most slender of the three orders.

The Corinthian order was also the most recently developed of the three, following the Ionic order—and if you look closely, you can see how a Corinthian column’s design builds on that of the Ionic.

Named after the Greek city-state of Corinth, these columns keep the same base as the Ionic column, but have a much more decorative capital. Read on to learn more about how to identify Corinthian columns, including defining characteristics, history, and famous buildings in the Corinthian style.

The youngest of the classic columns, Corinthian columns were first developed around the 5th century BC—the two oldest known examples are at the Temple of Apollo Epicurius at Bassae in the Peloponnese region of Greece (southwest of Athens in mainland Greece), built in the 5th century BC, and the Choragic Monument of Lysicrates in Athens, built in the 4th century BC. 

The style originated as a type of Ionic column, before being classified as its own order. Because they look the same from all sides, Corinthian columns were likely developed to solve the problem of the Ionic column having a defined front, back, and sides. 

The columns were likely first designed by Callimachus, an architect who worked in both Athens and Corinth. The Roman architect Vitrivius wrote, in the 1st century BC, of the myth of Corinthian columns’ origin. The story goes like this: A young girl died, and after her burial her nurse collected some of her favorite toys in a basket and placed it by the grave with a square tile on top to protect them from the rain. An acanthus tree grew up from beneath through the basket, its leaves intertwining in a manner that looks like the Corinthian column’s capital. Callimanchus saw this sight one day and was inspired.

While invented by the Greek, Corinthian columns were used more often by Romans—typically to signify values of elegance, sophistication, and luxury, especially when designing religious or grand civic buildings. Today, this style is still popular in civic and academic buildings.

The Corinthian order is characterized by its ornate, sophisticated look. The columns’ leafy capitals and slender widths add to this elegant look. Discover the other distinguishing features of these columns below.

The defining feature of Corinthian columns is their decorative classic capitals made of acanthus leaf carvings. The capitals typically have two rows of these leaves, one on top of the other, with a square abacus on top. The leaves can be dry and tight in appearance, or can be more extravagantly naturalistic and alive-looking.

With a diameter to height ratio of 10:1, these columns’ shafts have the most slender width of all three orders.

On some Corinthian capitals, you’ll see volutes reminiscent of the Ionic column above or between the leaves but below the abacus. They’re typically smaller than those you’ll find on an Ionic column, and are angled outward.

Shafts of Corinthian columns typically have 24 flutes in total. The flutes are usually rounded off before meeting the capital and base, similar to the Ionic style. However, you’ll sometimes see Corinthian columns with smooth shafts, particularly post-Renaissance. 

Corinthian columns’ origination as a variation of the Ionic order is apparent in their base—they typically use a simple attic base, just like Ionic columns do.

Famous buildings with Corinthian style columns include the Pantheon in Rome, the U.S. Capitol, and the Rotunda at UVA. Read on for more examples of this order.

Built in the 2nd century, the Pantheon in Rome has the largest unsupported concrete dome in the world. This ancient temple and Catholic church has Corinthian style columns both inside and outside on its facade.

What was once a huge temple dedicated to Zeus in the center of Athens, near the Acropolis, is now an ancient ruin—not much more than its Corinthian columns remain. 

The highly ornate U.S. Capitol has two levels of Corinthian columns, both on its facade and on its rotunda above. The building’s original sandstone columns were replaced with marble in 1962—the original columns are displayed in a field at the U.S. National Arboretum.

The U.S. Supreme Court building in D.C. has a stately neoclassical facade of eight Corinthian columns made of marble from Vermont.

The Bank of England has been headquartered in a classical building on Threadneedle Street in London since 1734. The building, called the Old Lady of Threadneedle Street, has multiple layers of Corinthian columns and provides the model for most modern central banks.

Philadelphia's main train station, 30th Street Station, is a classical revival structure built in 1933. It was built with both modern and traditional elements, like its Corinthian columns done in a simpler, less elaborate iteration.

UVA has some of the U.S.’s most quintessential neoclassical architecture. Its Rotunda was designed by Thomas Jefferson and inspired by Rome’s Pantheon, and it has 16 exterior Corinthian capitals.