Editing Ionic order (section)

===Anta capital===
{{main|Anta capital}}
The Ionic anta capital is the Ionic version of the [[anta capital]], the crowning portion of an [[anta (architecture)|anta]], which is the front edge of a supporting wall in [[Greek temple]] architecture. The anta is generally crowned by a stone block designed to spread the load from superstructure (entablature) it supports, called an "anta capital" when it is structural, or sometimes "[[pilaster]] capital" if it is only decorative as often during the Roman period.

In order not to protrude unduly from the wall, these anta capitals usually display a rather flat surface, so that the capital has more or less a rectangular-shaped structure overall. The Ionic anta capital, in contrast to the regular column capitals, is highly decorated and generally includes bands of alternating [[lotus flower|lotuses]] and [[flame palmette]]s, and bands of [[egg-and-dart|eggs and darts]] and [[beads and reels]] patterns, in order to maintain continuity with the decorative frieze lining the top of the walls. This difference with the column capitals disappeared with Roman times when anta or pilaster capitals have designs very similar to those of the column capitals.<ref name="google">{{cite book|title=A handbook of ornament|author=Meyer, F.S.|isbn=9781171715481|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WejuAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA214|page=214|publisher=Рипол Классик |access-date=2016-11-16}}</ref><ref name="books.google.com">The Classical Language of Architecture by John Summerson, p.47 "Anta" entry [https://books.google.com/books?id=57aoJE26kQkC&pg=PA47]</ref> The Ionic anta capitals as can be seen in the Ionic order temple of the [[Erechtheion]] (circa 410 BCE), are characteristically rectangular Ionic anta capitals, with extensive bands of floral patterns in prolongation of adjoining friezes.