Tennessee’s State Capitol: Nashville’s Tribute to Classical Greece

In this installment of ‘Larger Than Life: Architecture Through the Ages,’ we visit a statehouse inspired by ancient Greek architecture.

The front and back side of the Capitol are distinguished by eight fluted-shaft Ionic columns with volute, or scroll-like, capitals. The column bases are circular. Resting on the decorative top-of-column capitals are entablatures, which are bands of moldings. The columns appear to be holding up a massive pediment, above which rests a limestone block tower and a column-ringed cupola.  Public Domain

Philadelphia architect and engineer William Strickland (1788–1854) envisioned, and then designed, the circa 1859 Greek Revival building in Nashville that serves as the Tennessee state Capitol. At about 206 feet in height, the statehouse resembles a white monolith on the top of downtown Nashville’s tallest hill. The solid stone foundation of the building is seven feet thick. The structure was originally constructed entirely of Tennessee-quarried limestone.

The three-story design adheres to the Greek Revival style Ionic order, one of three classical architectural focuses (the other two being Doric and Corinthian) defined by mid-sized columns. The columns are adorned with a treatment called egg and dart, consisting of egg-shaped carved moldings alternating with V-shaped carved moldings.