Intercolumniation
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In architecture, intercolumniation is the spacing between columns in a colonnade, as measured at the bottom of their shafts.[1] In classical, Renaissance, and Baroque architecture, intercolumniation was determined by a system devised by the 1st century BC Roman architect Vitruvius.[2] Vitruvius compiled standard intercolumniations for the three classical Greek orders, expressed in terms of the column diameter,[1] twice the Vitruvian module, and he warned that when columns are placed three column-diameters apart or more, stone architraves break.[3]
[edit] Standard intercolumniations
The standard intercolumniations are:[4]
- Pycnostyle
- one and a half diameters
- Systyle
- two diameters
- Eustyle
- two and a quarter diameters, considered by Vitruvius to be the best proportion[5]
- Diastyle
- three diameters
- Araeostyle
- four or more diameters, requiring a wooden architrave rather than one of stone
- Araeosystyle
- alternating araeostyle and systyle
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b Intercolumniation. The Columbia Encyclopedia, sixth edition. Columbia University Press. Retrieved on 2007-06-03.
- ^ Intercolumniation. Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Retrieved on 2007-06-03.
- ^ Vitruvius, De architectura iii.3.4
- ^ Intercolumniation. Webster Dictionary, 1913. Retrieved on 2007-06-03.
- ^ Vitruvius, De architectura, iii.3.6.
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