Doric  order​–  characterized  by  a  slightly  tapered  column.

  The  Greek  forms  of 

the  Doric  order  have  no  individual  base  and  instead  rest  directly  on  the 
stylobate.  The  Doric  shaft  is  channeled  with  20  shallow  flutes.  The  ​capital​,  as 
stated  before,  consists  of  a  simple  necking.  The  frieze  section  of  the  Doric 
entablature  is  distinctive.  It  is  composed  of  projecting  triglyphs  (units  each 
consisting  of  three  vertical  bands  separated  by  grooves)  that  alternate  with 
receding  square panels, called ​metopes​, that may be either plain or carved with 
sculptured reliefs.
Ionic order​– A column was made up of several parts. The ​base​ is the stone platform at 
the bottom of the column. On top of the base is the ​shaft​, the long part of the column 
with groves running down the sides. At the very top is the c ​ apital​, the decorative stone 
that bears the weight of the roof. Ionic columns tend to be more slender, but the 
defining feature of the Ionic order is the volute. The v ​ olute​ is the spiral, scroll-like 
capital of the Ionic column. esides a column, the Ionic order also has specific 
entablature. The e ​ ntablature​ is the part of the roof that rests on top of the column and 
consists of the ​architrave​, the ​frieze​, and the c​ ornice​: 
● The a ​ rchitrave​ is the long beam that supports the weight directly above the 
column. 
● The f​ rieze​ is a strip above the architrave. 
● And the ​cornice​ is the top weight-bearing part which juts outwards. 
Corinthian order​ is the most elegant of the five orders. Its distinguishing 
characteristic is the striking capital, which is carved with two staggered rows 
of stylized acanthus leaves and four scrolls. The shaft has 24 sharp-edged 
flutes, while the column is 10 diameters high. 
 
 
In the Greek Corinthian order, the columns were
thin and ​fluted​, meaning they had a series of
vertical lines cut into the surface. The style tended
to be slender and elegant. The most striking
element of the Corinthian order was its very
decorative capital with a design of scrolls and
unfurled acanthus leaves.

The ​acanthus leaf​ motif was based on a durable

plant with spiked leaves found throughout the
Mediterranean. On the Corinthian entablature, the
frieze was usually decorated with continual
sculptural reliefs, where the figures were raised
from the surface but not completely freestanding.
The Tuscan Order of architecture is defined by one thing above all others: its simplicity. While the
other three orders of architecture are defined by the types of decoration that they employ, the
Tuscan order is generally defined by a lack of it.

A Tuscan column looks basically like a Doric column, except that is it not fluted. It is a simple,
unadorned shaft that rests on a simple, unadorned base and has a simple, unadorned capital. The
base can be either round or square; the preferred shape seems to have changed over time. In the
entablature that rests on the columns, the frieze is also left undecorated.

The Tuscan order also tends to be unique in its proportions. Classical columns tended to be tall and
narrow, emphasizing their height, and were placed closely together. Although this is not a technical
rule of the Tuscan order, Tuscan columns tend to be proportioned differently than Classical ones,
making them feel wider and more grounded. They also tend to be spaced further apart.
Composite Order-​ is a mixed order, combining the volutes of the Ionic order 
capital with the ​acanthus leaves​ of the Corinthian order. In many versions the 
composite order volutes are larger, however, and there is generally some 
ornament placed centrally between the volutes. The column of the composite 
order is typically ten diameters high, though as with all the orders these details 
may be adjusted by the architect for particular buildings. The Composite order 
is essentially treated as Corinthian except for the capital, with no consistent 
differences to that above or below the capital.