Publication
Despite the large number of writings on the Vitruvian theory relating to the mythical wood-worked origins of the Greek temple, there has been no recent writing on Ancient Greek buildings before De Architectura was published, in the period between the appearance of the first dwelling-houses and the definitive affirmation of the use of stone in the building of temples. Taking into consideration the fundamental constructive and symbolic element of the Greek temple, the column, this research analyses the evolution from the first rudimentary punctiform vertical structures used in Neolithic houses to the arrival of the complete transformation of the simple vertical support into a column, first realized in perishable materials and later in stone. The definitive statement of the architecture of whole temples entirely in stone constitutes the finishing post of this research. This study brings to light the principal firm data on which the reconstruction of the look of vertical punctiform structures rests, that is the column base. Such a construction element has been archaeologically documented from Neolithic buildings to those of the seventh century B.C. The column base will be interpreted with a wider meaning, including not only all the architectural supports on which a vertical support rests, but also the materials into which a support is driven. In this way, it has been possible to define as column supports all the natural dips in the land used to hold vertical supports, as well as stone foundations. Consequently, different sorts of columns bases, often in close relationship to the kinds of buildings adopted into them, have been singled out. Following the guiding thread of column-base development in different periods and geographical contexts, a line of development of the column base and its relative support takes us progressively towards the creation of the stone column.