And as strange as they are, they've got something in common with every other Corinthian column.

它們看起來有點奇怪，但與其它科林斯圓柱相比，還是有共通之處。

Something you have to look closer to see.

你得靠近點看的東西。

These are acanthus leaves.

這是芼茛葉飾。

Once you start looking for them, you'll notice them everywhere.

一但你開始注意它們，你會發現它們到處都是。

And these leaves?

而這些葉飾？

They say something about why we have decorated columns in the first place.

它們告訴我們，為什麼我們會開始裝飾這些柱子。

Okay.

好的。

So there are different types, or orders, of columns you run into in classical architecture.

這裡有幾種不同的類型或稱柱式的圓柱，這是你在古典建築中會碰到的。

The most important stuff is at the top part, on what's called the “capital.”

最重要的元素就在頂端那部分，一般稱之「柱頭」。

The three big orders are Doric — think super basic.

三個最大宗的柱式是，多利克柱式—最基本的。

Ionic: look for the swirly things, called volutes.

愛奧尼亞柱式：看到這漩渦式的東西，稱為「卷渦」。

And Corinthian — that's where you want to look for the leaves.

跟科林斯柱式—在這可以找到你想要的葉飾。

Composite is similar, but with the volutes added in.

複合式柱式跟它很像，但有加上卷渦。

It's a little much.

這就有點太多了。

Corinthian columns probably entered the mix around 550 BC, but through all these centuries of change, the ornamentation at the top stayed the same.

科林斯圓柱大約從西元前 550 年開始被結合入建築物中，但儘管過了好幾世紀，柱頂的裝飾仍舊不變。

And those leaves?

那些葉飾呢？

They tell the columns' story.

它們述說了圓柱的故事。

There's a myth behind the acanthus's appearance on columns.

芼茛葉出現在圓柱上，其背後有個神話故事。

It comes from the Roman writer Vitruvius.

源自於古羅馬作家，維特魯威。

His legend was that a young girl died.

他的傳奇故事是，有個年輕的女孩死去了，

In mourning, her nurse put the girl's favorite stuff in a basket and set a tile on top of it.

在喪事中，她的保母把女孩最喜歡的東西放在籃子裡，並在頂端放上一片平磚。

But the basket was placed on top of an acanthus plant, which grew leaves that covered the entire weave.

但這個籃子就放在芼茛葉植物上，後來不斷生長的芼茛葉覆蓋了整個編籃。

A sculptor named Callimachus saw it, got inspired, and invented the Corinthian column.

一個雕刻家卡利馬科斯看到了，這帶給他靈感，因此發明了科林斯圓柱。

Yeah, no … sure, Vitruvius.

是的，當然，維特魯威。

That's what happened.

就是這麼一回事。

But the myth does speak to what made the acanthus enduring.

但這個神話故事的確說明了為什麼芼茛葉飾能夠存在這麼久。

It could grow from root cuttings.

芼茛葉能夠從被切除的根部生長。

These leaves showed up on Greek columns, though many are now lost.

這些葉飾出現在希臘圓柱，雖然現在許多都消失了。

They popped up in Roman architecture as the empire grew.

隨著羅馬帝國的成長，也在羅馬建築中被大力推廣。

Some say the Greek and Roman columns had different acanthus species, but stylization has erased most of that distinction.

有些人說希臘與羅馬圓柱上的芼茛葉品種不同，但風格化抹去了許多的差異。

All the Corinthian columns' versions reflected the strength of the acanthus.

所有版本的科林斯圓柱反應出芼茛葉飾的優勢。

Eventually, the design of Corinthian column became strong enough to support itself through history.

最終，科林斯圓柱葉飾設計的優勢，讓它得以支撐自己在歷史上留有一席之地。

The acanthus wasn't a given.

芼茛葉飾並不是一定要有的東西。

This is the plan for the United States Capitol's hall of columns.

這是美國國會山莊圓柱的設計圖。

Along with acanthus, it includes tobacco leaves.

不只有芼茛葉飾，也包括菸草葉飾。

Around the world, columns draw on different ancient references, but in the West, referencing classical ornamentation largely means following the same template.

綜觀世界，圓柱的設計會以許多不同的古代樣式為參考資料，但在西方，參考古典裝飾大部分意味著跟隨相同的樣式。

Often there's creativity, as in this column capital at Chartres, but almost always, acanthus is in the mix.

經常有些獨創性的設計，就像位於沙特爾的這個圓柱柱頂，但大部分通常會結合芼茛葉飾在其中。

These leaves don't just symbolize the strength of a plant.

這些葉飾不僅代表這個植物的強韌。

They've come to represent the endurance of a culture's design.

也代表了一個文化的設計，擁有多大的韌性。

The Capitol building's current columns still feature ornate acanthus leaves.

現在的國會山莊建築仍舊有著芼茛葉的裝飾。

These columns were removed from the Capitol.

這些圓柱式從國會山莊移過來的。

But acanthus leaves?

但芼茛葉飾呢？

They may never be replaced.

或許永遠不會被取代。

So Vitruvius's real interest in these columns was probably more in the proportions than in the leaves.

所以相較於那些葉子，維特魯威對這些圓柱可能更加感興趣。

That makes sense when you know that he is the person who was behind the Vitruvian man.

當你知道他就是維特魯威人這幅素描背後的人物時，這就說得通了。

This guy.

這傢伙。

It feels like I'm dancing now.

好像我現在在跳舞似的。