Different types of columns may be used in a building in terms of diversity in the base of the column, the body and the head of the column. These columns have a structural role in some parts of the building and a decorative role in some parts. It means that we can mention Jame Atiq Mosque and Seyyed Mosque of Isfahan. The use of columns in Iran dates back to the 60th century BC in Musian (a city in Dehlran County, Ilam Province). But due to the fact that the materials used were wood and have generally been destroyed, only the clay and stone pasto remains. One of the most representative buildings built with these columns is Hasanlu Columned Halls (Hasanlu hill in Naqdeh city of West Azerbaijan). The columns of this hall date back to the 9th century BC. Also, in Ziviyeh (Saqqez city), Manai architects used clay and stone instead of wood to build columns and facades. For the first time, the columned halls were formed in Hasanlu by the Manas. Later, the Medes followed the Manas and used the pillared halls of the Urartos architecture. This architectural element has been used abundantly in Noushin Jan Melair hill, Achaemenian architecture in Pasargad and Persepolis and Babajan Tepe (Delfan city, Lorestan province). During this era, columns were made in two forms: full columns or free columns and half columns.
The use of the column after the arrival of Islam in Iran
After the arrival of Islam in Iran, columns were used in many buildings with different uses. In this period, the pillars were classified into three categories in terms of materials: stone, brick and wood. And in terms of fit, shape and size, they had a high variety.
Geometric structure (form-volume) of columns
According to the fact that in Iran the materials were native, most available stones were used. Iranians with their knowledge and experience of materials They chose the right shape for the columns. In this period, the form of the columns was partly influenced by factors such as the type of tools available and the possibility of cutting. For this reason, the type of stone used in the construction of the laundry building of Zanjan House is different from the stone used in Isfahan Grand Mosque.
Components of the column
The three pillars of the column are: Serstan: is placed on the top of the column, it is also called the top of the column, the head of the column, and the crown of the column. Column body: It is called the middle part of the column. This part of the column also has names such as column trunk and column cutting. Column base: It is called the lowest part of the column and is also known as sub-column, bottom of the column and foot of the column.
Types of columns in Iran after Islam
In general, columns were divided into three categories: cubic columns, round columns, and polygonal columns. Today, flat and semi-round columns are also popular, and these columns are the same cubic and round columns that are used 1/2 (halved column). In the previous articles, we talked about the round columns in detail. In the following, we will discuss in detail about cubic columns
Cube columns:
1) Columns of a simple cubic floor. This type of column has been used in Haj Tarab bathroom in Isfahan.
2) step cube column
A simple stepped cubic head was created by stacking cubic plates on top of each other, from top to bottom of its length and width. It could be reduced. In this type of column, the height of each step was fixed. Like Isfahan Jame Mosque
Stepped cubic capital with the height of the stairs decreasing from top to bottom (four steps): In this capital, while reducing the length and width, the height of the columns is also reduced. Like the bell of Vank church in Isfahan