Baroque architecture used spiral 'Solomonic' columns to create a sense of dynamic energy and movement.

The Solomonic column, also known as a barley-sugar column, became a hallmark of the Baroque period during the 17th century. Its most famous application is the Baldacchino in St. Peter's Basilica, commissioned by Pope Urban VIII and completed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini between 1624 and 1633. This massive bronze structure stands nearly 30 meters tall and uses the spiral form to bridge the gap between the human scale and the immense height of the dome above.The term 'Solomonic' originates from the 'Colonna Santa,' a specific marble column in St. Peter's believed to have been brought from King Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem by Emperor Constantine in the 4th century. While modern historians suggest these original columns likely date to 2nd-century Greece, the religious association gave the spiral design immense spiritual authority during the Counter-Reformation. The shape served a theological purpose by symbolizing the movement of the soul toward the divine.Architecturally, the spiral breaks the rigid stability of classical Greek and Roman orders. By creating a helical curve, the column generates a visual illusion of constant motion and energy, which is a core principle of Baroque aesthetics. This design requires advanced mathematical precision to ensure the weight-bearing capacity remains stable despite the twisted form. Today, these columns remain one of the most recognizable features of European and Latin American colonial architecture.