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History, Geography, Citizenship, Personal, Social & Emotional Development, Social Studies, Philosophy
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The Ionic order is one of the three principal styles of classical architecture, alongside the Doric and Corinthian orders. Ionic columns are characterized by their slender, elegant proportions and spiral scroll-like ornaments, known as volutes, decorating the capital. The columns typically rest on a more elaborate base, which separates the shaft from the stylobate or platform. The top of the shaft is often adorned with an ovate ornament, a continuous decorative motif featuring elliptical egg shapes alternating with a dart or spear pattern. One of the earliest significant Ionic temples was the Temple of Hera in Samos, built around 570 to 560 BCE by the architect Rhoikos. It stood for only a decade before being destroyed by an earthquake. In contrast, the 6th century BCE Temple of Artemis in Ephesus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, had a longer lifespan. The Parthenon, although mainly Doric in style, also has some Ionic elements. A purer example of the Ionic order can be found at the Erechtheum on the Acropolis of Athens.
