compound column

A compound column, also known as a compound pier in Romanesque and Gothic architecture, is a group of columns connected to form a single unit. This feature was designed to support arches and create a harmonious blend between the arch and the pier. It is considered a precursor to the Gothic clustered column and is often cross-shaped in section with shafts set into the recesses.12

While classical Greek and Roman architecture utilized various orders of columns, compound columns are specifically noted in later architectural periods. In contrast, simple columns, which can be decorative or structural, are a fundamental element in classical architecture, serving as a module for proportions and supporting loads. Modern columns are typically made of materials like iron, steel, or concrete and are often simply designed.13