Columna
A column used in architecture or as a landmark
Columna (plural columnae) is a Latin term that refers to the various styles of columns used throughout classical architecture. Columnae were used frequently throughout the ancient world as both decorative and structural architectural features, however their original use would certainly have been structural. Early examples of columnae in the ancient world consisted of large tree trunks positioned upright to support the tops of buildings, and even later examples constructed of stone sometimes were decorated to resemble tree trunks, as can be seen in Egypt. Tree trunks needed stone bases at the tops and bottoms in order to keep them secure when supporting a building, and this style continued as columnae were built of stone - making up the three main parts of a columna: the base, the shaft, and the capital (Murray, 1875). All three parts had specific styles, or orders, in which they could be built throughout antiquity, with the earliest style in Greek architecture being the Doric order. The design of each order typically increased in complexity from the last, primarily in the capital of the columna. The Romans themselves adopted the use of columnae from the Greeks, and used them extensively throughout Roman architecture for decorative and structural purposes. Some Roman columnae such as those used to build peristylia and porticus were structural and held up covered walkways, and many Roman buildings such as basilicae had columnae in the interior of the building used both as supports and to separate space within a building. Some Roman buildings used columnae decoratively and structurally, such as Roman temples. Roman temples, like Greek temples, were typically surrounded by columnae; but unlike Greek temples, Roman temples were closed off on three of the four sides and only used structural columnae to support the porticus at the front of the temple. The other three walls would have had fake columnae wrapped around the building that were purely decorative. Another example of decorative columnae in Roman architecture are commemorative columnae that could be dedicated to a person or to a specific event, such as the Rostral Column (Columna Rostra) which depicted and recorded successful naval battles (Murray, 1875). Commemorative columnae were also used to propagate the power and deeds of emperors during the Imperial period, as can be seen in the Column of Trajan (or Columna Traiani) (Agnani, 2005). These columnae would be free standing, imposing structures that were meant to attract attention from people passing by with their lavish decoration.
Bibliography
Latin Dictionary Entry
Columna - Perseus Digital Library
Jay Brodzeller, 2022