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Greek Architectural Orders

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The orders of Greek architecture were first mentioned in the work of Vitruvius, a Roman architect writing in the first century BCE although his work is thought to be based on earlier writings of Greek texts now lost. Vitruvius lists three orders and in this short exhibit we will explore them. Architectural orders describe the design of a building and these orders are readily identifiable by its profile and proportions. The style of column that a building employs is a pretty good indicator of the building style. "The classical orders—described by the labels Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian—do not merely serve as descriptors for the remains of ancient buildings, but as an index to the architectural and aesthetic development of Greek architecture itself,"--Kahn Academy.