What is the structural element that can be shafted, fluted, or smooth?

What is the structural element that can be shafted, fluted, or smooth?

• A. Architrave
• B. Column
• C. Entablature
• D. Frieze

Answer: (B)

Column is the vertical support that can feature a shaft, which may be smooth or fluted. In classical architecture, the column includes a base, a shaft, and a capital. The shaft is the long cylindrical part, and it is often fluted (grooved vertically) but can also be smooth (unfluted). Architrave, entablature, and frieze are horizontal elements that sit atop columns and do not have a shaft. So the description of being shafted, fluted, or smooth fits the column best because these terms refer to the vertical shaft portion of a column.

Column is the vertical support that can feature a shaft, which may be smooth or fluted. In classical architecture, the column includes a base, a shaft, and a capital. The shaft is the long cylindrical part, and it is often fluted (grooved vertically) but can also be smooth (unfluted). Architrave, entablature, and frieze are horizontal elements that sit atop columns and do not have a shaft. So the description of being shafted, fluted, or smooth fits the column best because these terms refer to the vertical shaft portion of a column.