Ionic Capital

The fragment preserves the characteristic lateral volutes that define Ionic capitals, although they are partially worn by time. These consist of two symmetrical spirals, arranged horizontally, which curve harmoniously on either side of the main body. At the center, between the volutes, is the echinus, a convex element on which a decorative pattern of small oval motifs (ovoli) is still partly visible. Above it rests the abacus, a thin, squared slab that served as the support for the building’s architrave. On the outer surfaces of the volutes, traces of vegetal decoration are preserved, composed of stylized leaves and small palmettes that enrich the capital with elegant ornamental details.

Architectural forms in the Ionic style reached Magna Graecia only toward the end of the 6th century BC. Although the state of preservation of the artifact makes it difficult to distinguish all the original details, this capital represents one of the earliest known examples of its kind. It was discovered during excavations carried out in 1969 in the Parco del Cavallo, where it had been reused in the wall of a Roman-period building. It is therefore not possible to determine with certainty the original structure to which it belonged; however, its dimensions and the elegance of its forms suggest that it may have been part of a medium-sized public building.