Five Orders of Architecture

The Five Orders of Architecture—Doric, Ionic, Corinthian, Tuscan, and Composite—are styles developed in ancient Greece and Rome to differentiate types of columns and their associated structures. Each order has distinctive details: Doric is sturdy and plain, Ionic features elegant scrolls, Corinthian is highly ornate with acanthus leaves, Tuscan is simple and unadorned, and Composite combines elements of Ionic and Corinthian. These styles provide a systematic approach to design, emphasizing proportion, decoration, and structural harmony, and have influenced architectural aesthetics for centuries in both classical and modern buildings.