SPĪRA

( σπεῖρα ), dim. SPĪRŬLA, the base of a column. This member did not exist in the Doric order of Greek architecture, but was always present in the Ionic and Corinthian, and, besides the bases properly belonging to those orders, there was one called the Attic, which may be regarded as a variety of the Ionic [ Attic urges ]. In the Ionic and Attic the base commonly consisted of two tori ( torus superior and torus inferior ) divided by a scotia ( τρόχιλος ), and in the Corinthian of two tori divided by two scotiae. The upper torus was often fluted ( ῥαβδωτός ), and surmounted by an astragal [ Astragalus ], as in the left-hand figure of the annexed woodcut, which shows the form of the base in the Ionic temple of Panops on the Ili us. The right-hand figure in the same woodcut shows the corresponding part in the temple of Minerva Polias at Athens. In this the upper torus is wrought with a plaited ornament, perhaps designed to represent a rope or cable. In these two temples the spira rests not upon a plinth ( plinth us , πλίνθος ), but on a podium. IMG:6459379820872971714_ill347b.jpg: Spirae (bases) of Columns. (From ancient Columns.)