Happy Urban Dirt

You may have never heard of acanthus, but you have certainly seen it more than once, even if it does not occur in plant form. You may also know it by other names, such as nazareno, carnerona or giant grass. It is a common plant in gardens, parks and greenhouses, although you may be familiar with the acanthus leaf in another field, such as architecture.

This element belonging to the discussed plant was often used in the past to create columns, filigrees and other decorative elements. If you want to learn more about the acanthus leaf, I recommend further reading. In this article we will explain what it is and discuss its importance in architecture.

What is an acanthus leaf?

When we talk about acanthus, or Bear pantswe mean a perennial plant originating from Asia Minor and West Africa, belonging to the Acanthus family. Even though it has attractive white or purple flowers, its main characteristic feature is its leaves. They resemble a thistle and have a very intense green color. The basal leaves are from twenty to one hundred centimeters wide and from two to thirty centimeters long. They are usually elliptical or ovate in shape. The upper leaves, on the other hand, are much smaller, reaching from one to four centimeters wide and from one to two and a half centimeters long. They are also thorny at the top.

According to a very venerable legend, Callimachus, who was a Greek goldsmith, painter, and sculptor, saw a specimen of acanthus curled up in a virgin’s tomb. This image inspired him to create an ornament that became very popular and was an element of Corinthian capitals. Later we will discuss what the acanthus leaf has to do with architecture.

What type of plant is acanthus?

It’s all very well that we know what an acanthus leaf is, but what exactly is this plant? Let’s see: This vegetable is grown almost everywhere in the world, mainly for decorative purposes. Besides, has some medicinal and therapeutic properties thanks to the various vigorous ingredients it contains, such as mineral salts, tannins, mucus and others. The properties attributed to this valuable plant are astringent, expectorant, antidiarrheal, analgesic (although quite gentle in action) and emollient.

When taken orally, acanthus leaf has a laxative and stimulating effect, helping to open the aptitus. At the local level, because it has anti-inflammatory properties, it is often used as a poultice, applying it to inflamed areas. The juice of this vegetable is also used for medicinal purposes, as it soothes insect bites and burns. In addition, it helps to heal bruises caused by minor knocks, falls or blows and fights herpes. As they say, Acanthus is able to accelerate the healing process of wounds and reduce skin irritation.

In folk medicine, the mucous roots of this vegetable are used to combat diarrhea. In the past, This plant is especially recommended for relieving nasal congestion and cleansing the respiratory tract. For this reason, it was widely used to treat sore throats, bronchitis, colds, and other respiratory diseases.

What is acanthus in architecture?

Since classical Greece, the acanthus leaf has been a decorative element that has survived throughout history, passing through different styles. In the 5th century BC, Callimachus introduced this ornament, changing the volutes of the capitals belonging to the Ionic style of Greek architectural orders, passing to the Corinthian style. We can appreciate the importance of this modern element especially in the columns. In addition, the acanthus leaf gave rise to the so-called “palmette”, which is essentially an ornament similar to the palm leaf, but stylized. The scheme is the same as for acanthus leaves, but is usually more symmetrical and inert.

Acanthus leaf in different styles

Throughout history, the acanthus leaf has taken on different aspects, some more realistic than others. It all depended on the concept that was in force at a given time, changing the framing and treatment of the form, thus making it easier to distinguish the styles of recent centuries. Let’s see how it has evolved from archaic times through different styles:

• Greek: In classical Greece, acanthus leaves, usually rolled up, were a symbol of eternal life. They were used to decorate buildings and sculptures with a very elegant touch.
• Roman: The Romans used more rounded shapes. They also made the leaves bigger and made the curves wider to give them more movement. In this way, they wanted to add some energy and vitality to the idea of ​​plant life.
• Byzantine: By the time of the Middle Ages this decorative element had become less tender and more unyielding.
• Medieval art: In the Middle Ages, the acanthus leaf began to decorate paper in the form of engravings, decorating primarily capital letters and the margins of texts. In terms of appearance, it begins to be less elegant than in Classicism, and the arrangements are simpler and more circular.
• Gothic: At this stage, it is combined with other plants to decorate various architectural structures and sculptures. The details are given great importance and take on more organic shapes, such as tongues of fire and flames, making it tough to recognize the acanthus leaf.
• Renaissance: During the Renaissance, this decorative element regained its Greco-Roman elegance and became an extremely refined detail.
• Baroque and Rococo: During this period, acanthus leaves took on an even more refined form and became a very popular element in goldsmithing and carpentry.

As you can see, during the evolution, the acanthus leaf has always maintained its plant shape and movement, but has slightly changed its shape and appearance, adapting to the canons of the era. It is undoubtedly a decorative element that offers many ornamental possibilities. It can be mixed with different structures and elements in different artistic and architectural disciplines.