Why the Capital of a Column Matters in Architecture
When you've ever strolled past an old library or a fancy government building, the capital of a column is normally the first thing that catches your eye, even if you don't immediately understand the technical name for it. It's that ornamental piece sitting here at the top of a pillar, acting like a transition involving the vertical shaft as well as the horizontal ceiling or beam over it. While this might look like it's just there in order to be pretty, it actually does a lot of weighty lifting—both literally and figuratively. ...