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columns
Papyriform or Papyrus columns can have either circular or ribbed shafts, representing single- or multi-stem papyrus plants. The columns may also have either bell shaped capitals (representing the open umbel of the papyrus plant) or closed bud shaped capitals representing the closed papyrus bud.
This type of column first appears as an engaged column (a column attached to a wall) in Djoser's Complex at Saqqara. Free-standing papyriform columns became popular by the time of the New Kingdom. Over time, the design became more and more stylised.
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