Acanthus

The acanthus is one of the most common plant of Mediterranean and a form for foliage ornament and decoration in classical architecture.

Plant

Plant of the genus Acanthus, native to tropical and warm temperate regions and having pinnately lobed basal leaves with spiny margins and showy spikes of white or purplish flowers.

Ornament

Foliage has commonly been used as ornament by classical architecture. Stylized acanthus leaves is one of the most commun motif that appeared in Greek , Roman and neo-classical architecture. One of the best exemple is the capital of the Corinthian column (See Temple of Zeus in Athens.) Acanthus folliage motif was often mixed with palmette mofif. (See anthemion.)

Acanthus leaves were used by the Greeks in funerary architecture from the 5th century B.C. The thorny form of the leaves were a symbol of the pricly journey from life to death.

Mythology

Acantha was a nymph loved by Apollo who turned her into an acanthus plant when she refused to be his lover.