The Three Orders of Architecture

Introduction

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The Ionic Order

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The Doric Order

The Doric Order was associated with the masculine archetype by the Roman architect and historian, Marcus Vitruvius Pollio (c. 80–70 BC – after c. 15 BC), whilst the Ionic Order was associated with the feminine archetype.

Originating in the Doric region of Greece, Argos, Corinth, and Sparta were among the most important cities of Doric origin. Doric (or Dorian) was one of the major dialects of the Classical Greek languages. The Doric columns are recognised by the plain circular capitals at the top of the columns. Regarded as the strongest of the three canonical orders and had a height only four to eight times their diameter, and so as such these columns were the stockiest of the orders. Because of their strength, Doric columns were commonly used on the ground floor to support the weight of upper floors.

Design

The fluted Doric column is primarily characterised by a plain capital and a column that rests directly on the stylobate (a continuous base supporting a row of columns) without an individual base. The Doric "entablature" - the assemblage of horizontal moldings and bands supported by and located immediately above the columns - includes a frieze composed of "trigylphs." These are the vertical plaques with three divisions and metopes (rectangular architectural element) for artistic or sculpted decoration.

In The Lodge

The Doric Column is assigned to the Senior Warden in the west of the lodge and is said to represent strength. (For memory aid: Doric is near the door, close to the strong Tyler guarding the entrance to the lodge.)

When the lodge is "at labor" the Doric column is upright and when at "refreshment" the column is placed horizontally.

"The oldest and most original of the three Grecian orders. It is remarkable for robust solidity in the column, for massive grandeur in the entablature, and for harmonious simplicity in its construction. The distinguishing characteristic of this order is the want of a base. The flutings are few, large, and very little concave. The capital has no astragal, but only one or more fillets, which separate the flutings from the torus. The column of strength which supports the Lodge is of the Doric order, and its appropriate situation and symbolic officer are in the West." An Encyclopedia Of Freemasonry 1916 Vol 1 - A G Mackey

The Corinthian Order

The Corinthian order was the last of the three principal classical orders of Greek and Roman architecture. The Corinthian columns are the most ornate of the three classical orders and the ornate features toward the top of the columns come in many different designs.

The name Corinthian is derived from the region of Corinth of Ancient Greece.

Design

According to Vitruvius, the Corinthian column was created by the sculptor Callimachus (thought to be Athenian), who drew acanthus leaves growing around a votive basket. Volutes were frequently added to the columns, which measure ten times their diameter in height. In many respects, the Corinthian column follows the design of the Doric Column, possibly with similar anthropomorphic intent:

"The proportions of the orders were by the ancients formed on those of the human body, and consequently, it could not be their intention to make a Corinthian column, which, as Vitruvius observes, is to represent the delicacy of a young girl, as thick and much taller than a Doric one, which is designed to represent the bulk and vigor of a muscular full-grown man." Sir William Chambers

In The Lodge

The Corinthian column is assigned to the Junior Warden in the south. It is said to represent "Beauty."

Other Orders of Architecture

Summary of Tuscan and Composite + images