ACANTHUS, in Architecture, an Ornament in the Corinthian and Composite Orders; being the Representation of the Leaves of an Acanaceous Plant, in the Capitals thereof.See CAPITAL, and LEAVES.
It takes its Name from δKανθος, the Name given the Plant among the Greeks, as being prickly, or of the Thistle Kind. The Latin Botanists call it Sranca Ursina, Bearsoot, from some supposed resemblance it bears thereto; or Sranca Hircina, by reason its Leaves bend and twill somewhat like a Goat's Horns.There are two Kinds of the Plant Acanthus, one whereof grows wild, and is full of Prickles; the other grows in Gardens, and is by Virgil called Mollis, in regard it is soft, and without any Prickles.—The Greek Sculptors adorned their Works with the Figure of the latter; as the Gothic did with that of the former, which they represented not only in their Capitals, but also in other Ornaments.
The Garden Acanthus, is the most dented; bearing a good deal of resemblance to Parsley, or Smallage: And thus it is we find it represented in the Composite Capitals of Titus, and Septimius Severus at Rome.
These Leaves make the principal Character and Distinction of the two rich Orders from the rest: and their different Number and Arrangement does also distinguish the two Orders from each other. See ORDER; see also CORINTHIAN, and COMPOSITE.
The Origin and Occasion of the Ornament, see under the Article ABACUS.
