CLASSICAL Greek temple columns were fluted because they were derived from timber construction. The columns are a stone form of a tree trunk debarked with an adze. In fact the whole of the Doric order ...

Miss A. D. BETTS, Thorn Cottage, Byways, Berk-hamsted, Herts, writes to suggest that the fluted columns of Greek architecture were copied from plant stems, such as those of an umbelliferous plant.

Columns, capitals and their respective bases have long endured the test of evolving architectural styles and interpretations. Although the classical orders of architecture can be traced to ancient ...