A corpus of early ionic capitals

Abstract

Definition of the design evolution of the Hellenic Ionic Order and Ionic votive column typology is at present hampered by lacunae in knowledge regarding the Archaic Ionic capital in its foundational phase in architectural and gIyptic art. The study identifies comprehensive contextually based typological knowledge of the Archaic Ionic capital as prerequisite to further understanding of its founding, in itself required to complete a design history of the Ionic Order and Ionic votive column. In this study this knowledge is represented in the form of a corpus where lacunae in current databases, typological ordering models and subsequent typological interpretations of the capital are filled through the inclusion of new data, integration of existing ordering models and through introducing new dimensions of interpretation. The study discloses! style evolution as well as the design and making processes inherent to the early Ionic capital, and defines the early Ionic capital as one of the artifacts from which a particular focus of cultural endeavour in the Archaic Hellenic period may be reconstructed. Conclusions from the revisionary typological interpretation are employed in the formulation of a critical framework within which the achieved conclusions may be brought in relation with relevant contextual evidence and typological interpretations from other cultural enclaves, from which a history of the early Ionic capital may be constructed. The framework includes identification of existing interpretations and knowledge which have become irrelevant and the still required research, which may be brought in relation to existing knowledge. The achieved ordering model, typological interpretation and historiographical framework together act as open-ended reference, interpretive and explorative tools for further cross-disciplinary research into the evolution of the early Ionic capital as well as its architectural and artistic context. This is due to their integrative, comprehensive and contextual nature, as well as their formulation which accommodates changes emanating from future archaeological interpretation.