Why did Acanthus mollis, native to West Mediterranean, become a so relevant artistic and symbolic element arising from ancient Greece?

Acanthus mollis, a Western Mediterranean plant, became a pivotal artistic and symbolic element in ancient Greek architecture despite not being native to Greece. This study reveals that the Corinthian capital, featuring A. mollis leaves, likely originated from cultural exchanges with colonies like Syracuse, where the species was widespread. The earliest examples, such as those at the Doric Temple of Apollo Epicurius at Bassae (450-425 BC) and the Tholos at Epidaurus (360-330 BC), suggest that Greek architects drew inspiration from cultivated plants or regions like Sicily and Magna Graecia. The research clarifies the species' distribution, noting that A. mollis subsp. mollis is native to Italy, France, and Croatia, while A. spinosus is indigenous to Greece, challenging previous assumptions about its origin in Greek art.

(Ed.). (2019). Why did Acanthus mollis, native to West Mediterranean, become a so relevant artistic and symbolic element arising from ancient Greece? Flora Mediterranea, 29. https://doi.org/10.7320/flmedit29.119