The Five Orders of Architecture

A recreation of the Orders of Architecture, created by the ancient Greeks, Etruscans, and Roman Empire. There are five distinct orders, differing from each other in one way or another.

The Tuscan order is the simplest, originating within Etruscan architecture.

The Doric order is the most common style found in ancient Greece, being featured in some of the most iconic buildings in the world, such as the Parthenon in Athens.

The Ionic order is most easily recognized by its volutes and scrolls, which were a sign of femininity in the ancient world.

Although the Greeks did invent the Corinthian order, they rarely used it, as they felt it was too extravagant. The Roman Empire favored the Corinthian order, using it in a lot of their buildings.

The Composite order is the most complex of these orders, and also the youngest, not being recognized as an order until 1638 during the European Renaissance.