Column

Column at St Mark's Square in Venice

A column in architecture is a vertical element that transmits the weight of the structure above to the structure below. Columns can be either a single piece or several pieces put together. Columns are frequently used to support beams or arches on which the upper parts of walls or ceilings rest.

History

Columns at Luxor.

Stone columns were already used in the architecture of ancient Egypt as early as 2600 BC.

Column Media

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  National Capitol Columns at the United States National Arboretum in Washington, D.C.

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  Columns of the Parliament House in Helsinki, Finland

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  Column of the Gordon Monument in Waterloo.

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  Dragon pillar from the Yingzao Fashi, Song dynasty

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  Plan, front view and side view of a typical Persepolis column, of Persia (Iran)

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  Table showing values of K for structural columns of various end conditions (adapted from Manual of Steel Construction, 8th edition, American Institute of Steel Construction, Table C1.8.1)

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  Minoan columns at the West Bastion of the Palace of Knossos

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  Illustration of the end of a Mycenaean column, from the Tomb of Agamemnon

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  Illustration of the Tuscan order

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  Illustration of the Doric order