Corinthian Capitals

, During the Roman and Byzantine periods (the 1st to 7th centuries CE), the cities of Palestine were adorned with columned streets, plazas, temples, churches, entertainment buildings and bathhouses that were erected in the best classical architectural tradition. Such structures and columned streets conformed to any one of three building orders: the Doric, Ionic or Corinthian. The remains of cornices, column bases, column drums and capitals of these three architectural orders have been uncovered in various sites throughout Israel. The architectural elements discovered at Caesarea offer a glimpse of Roman-Byzantine public architecture, and its ties to the reigning culture of the Mediterranean basin., The column capital used most often during the Roman and Byzantine periods was a version of the Corinthian architectural order, decorated in relief with stylized acanthus leaves (acanthus syriacus Boiss; Syrian bear's breech). This pleasing ornament, suitable for covering large surfaces, was widely used in architectural art - on column capitals as well as on other elements. The Corinthian capital was sculptured with a drill and refined with a chisel. The capitals on exhibit represent the variety of types and styles of the Roman-Byzantine Corinthian capitals., Marble , The Roman and Byzantine periods ,