Greek columns

Physically Greek columns are embodying both the symbolism of the Tree and Tree of life [if they are Corinthian] and that of the Column as a portal to the spiritual world. If the Column is Ionic then the Ram’s horn top is a reference to the tunnel symbolism and the horns – the two tunnels.  The single column being the spine leading to the two main exit and entry points to and from the spiritual world at large.

Ionic column with ram's horn top

A single large column, especially those columns which have a base with an obvious root like splay and tops/capitals with leafy decoration which the Greek columns had in their Corinthian columns, represents a tree.  The tree is the spine and crown chakra.  The splayed leafy decoration at the top and the slightly often bowed tree like trunk of the column shows it to be a representation of a tree and the fact there is only one large column indicates its symbolism.

Corinthian Capial with

Entablature from the

Pantheon in Rome

The Corinthian order is one of the three biggest classical orders of ancient Greek and Roman architecture. It is the most ornate, characterized by a slender fluted column and an elaborate capital decorated with acanthus leaves and scrolls.

A vision [or a physical representation] in which there are multiple columns, all upright, possibly grouped, all with bases with a root like splay and a capital with foliage is representing a grove of trees. 

One way in which this symbolism was made physical was to build a round colonnade of columns topped with tree like headers or to build a temple.  Possibly the best example of this approach is the Greek temple.  The Greek temples were not built with columns having a foliage capital by accident;  there was symbolism being used in their design particularly in Corinthian capitals.  The porticos with their surroundings of columns with symbolic trees provided a symbolic grove attached, as it were, to the temple.

In actual buildings which use this symbolism the architect is proclaiming “this is the place where you can get or learn how to get a spiritual experience’ which makes its use in laws courts and banks somewhat incongruous!  Presumably the shock of the bank charges provides enough emotional input to give you an out of body experience.

A temple such as the Parthenon [shown below] was a physical representation of a grove of trees on a hill, thus a combination of symbols – the hill and the grove of trees. 

Greek temple the Parthenon combining symbols of the hill and the grove of trees

Observations

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• Hypnerotomachia Poliphili - Sacred Grove
• Persepolis - And its sacred geography 06 Bull capitals and columns