Definition: The term Egyptian column can refer to a column from Ancient Egypt or a modern column inspired by Egyptian ideas.
Columns of Ancient Egypt:
During the reign of the great kings of Egypt, roughly between 3,050 BC and 900 BC, at least thirty distinct column styles evolved. The earliest builders carved columns from enormous blocks of limestone, sandstone, and red granite. Later, columns were constructed from stacks of stone disks.
Some Egyptian columns have polygon-shaped shafts with as many as 16 sides. Other Egyptian columns are circular. The ancient Egyptian architect Imhotep, who lived in 27th century B.C, is credited with carving stone columns to resemble bundled reeds and other plant forms. The columns were placed close together so they could carry the the weight of the heavy stone roof beams.
Common Features on Egyptian Columns:
- Stone shafts carved to resemble tree trunks or bundled reeds or plant stems
- Lily, lotus, palm or papyrus plant motifs on the capitals (tops)
- Bud-shaped or campaniform (bell-shaped) capitals
- Brightly painted carved relief decorations
Egyptian Columns in the Western World:
With the rise of the Classical Orders of Architecture, Greek and Roman ideas were incorporated into the Egyptian column styles. In turn, Egyptian motifs influenced the evolution of column styles in the Western world. Nearly 2,000 years later, architects in Europe and the United States borrowed Egyptian motifs and Egyptian column styles for Egyptian Revival and Art Deco buildings.
Egyptian Column Resources:
