Korinthisches Kapitell

The Corinthian order is one of the leitmotifs of Roman architecture. The capital’s body (kalathos/basket) is embellished with two rows of eight leaves each, generally called acanthus leaves because of their similarity to the eponymous plant found in the countries bordering the Mediterranean; here, they are surmounted by volutes and “helices” on which rests the abacus, the flat uppermost slab that receives the weight of the architrave. Such capitals were used in many of the buildings found at Ephesus, including the palaestra of the Harbour Baths.