The Ancient Greeks introduced the three main orders of columns that we still have today. The three orders are Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian columns, and even though these columns have progressed thr…

The Parthenon in Nashville's Centennial Park is a full-scale copy of the original Greek Parthenon; it was initially built in 1897 as part of the Tennessee Centennial Exposition of plaster, wood, and brick. In 1920 the Parthenon was rebuilt on the same foundations, in concrete, in a project that was completed in 1925; the interior was completed in 1931.

Ancient Greek column and capital in Doric order

Columns that we see in today's architecture were originated by the ancient Greeks. The three columns are the Doric, Ionic and Corinthian orders. All of the orders have a capital, or top, and a shaft. Although the Doric column does not have a base, or footing, the Ionic and Corinthian ones do.