The hypotrachelion is the “neck” at the bottom of the capital of a classical column: the upper, slightly narrowed part of the column shaft, just below the capital. The word is Greek: “hypo” (under) and “trachelos” (neck).
Characteristics
The hypotrachelion forms the transition between the shaft and the capital of a column.
- It is the upper, slightly narrowed part of the shaft.
- It is often marked by one or more horizontal grooves or notches (annuli).
- These grooves indicate the transition between the shaft and the capital.
Application
- Occurs mainly in the Doric order.
Related terms
- Column
- Capital
- Shaft
- Doric
- Echinus
- Annuli
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