"To form the capital, the foot of the column must be divided into eighteen parts, and nineteen of these parts is the height and width of the abaco, half thereof is the height ofthe capital with the volute, which is therefore nine parts and a half high; one part and half must be given to the abaco with its cimacio, the other eigtht remain for the volute, which is thus made.

One of the nineteen parts is to be allowed from the extremity to the inside of the cimacio, and that place where the point was made, a line must be fall perpendicular, which divides the volutain the middle, called catheto. And where the point is upon the line which separates the superior four parts and a half from the inferior three and half, the center of the eye of the voluta must be made, whose diameter is one of the eight parts. And from the said point a line must be drawn, which intersecting with the catheto at rectangles, divides the voluta into four parts.

Then a square ought to be formed in the eye of the voluta,..."

THE FOUR BOOKS OF ARCHITECTURE - FIRST BOOK, Chap. XVI, Of the Ionick Order - Andrea Palladio