echinus
9.9
A rounded part under the flat slab at the top of a classical column
- noun
- /ɪˈkaɪnəs/
- Specialized
:
echino
- From the level of the base, a fluted column rises, terminating in a Doric echinus (cushion) that supports an upper basin with a floriated fountainhead.
Examples
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In classical architecture, the echinus serves as a crucial element connecting the column shaft to the abacus.
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The architect carefully designed the echinus to enhance the aesthetic appeal of the Doric column.
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The ornate detailing of the echinus adds elegance to the overall structure of the temple.
Compounds
Echinus esculentus
- Specialized
9.9
A sea urchin you can eat that lives in the northeast Atlantic and nearby seas
Medicago echinus
- Specialized
9.9
An annual plant native to the Mediterranean with spiny seed pods and leaves with dark spots
Surface Forms
Etymology
The word echinus comes from the Greek echinos, which means 'hedgehog' or 'sea urchin', animals with a round, often curved shape. That's why the architectural echinus is the rounded, curved part just under the top of a column.
