Origins

• The Doric column is the oldest of the three recognized styles of Greek column, and is named for the region of Greece from which it originated.
  
  

Description

• The Doric is composed of two main sections: the shaft and the capital. The shaft is the tall, vertical main portion of the column, while the capital is the decorative rounded portion at the top of the column.
  
  

Identification

• The Doric column is typically the thickest of the classical columns and has vertical lines, or grooves, running the length of the shaft. The capital, the decorative element at the top of the column, is composed of two parts. A slightly rounded cushion of concrete, called the echinus, tops the shaft, followed by a square slab of concrete, known as the abacus.
  
  

Examples

• Two typical examples of the Doric column may be found at the ancient Italian city of Paestum: the Basilica, and the Temple of Poseidon. Both buildings date to around 550 B.C.
  
  

Heritage

• The Doric column may still be found on porches and verandas throughout the world, on domestic and commercial architecture. It is one of the lasting contributions of the ancient Greeks to the modern world.