Column capitals underwent many stylistic changes between the ancient Greek to Romanesque periods. Ancient Greek and Roman columns followed strict rules and orders depending on the building’s purpose and the message it was meant to convey. During the Byzantium, there was a shift from ornate, ordered capitals to more simple ones that did not follow consistent rules or patterns. The Carolingian period was similarly stylistically undefined. Then, the Romanesque period saw a transition back toward more consistent designs that were influenced by ancient roman architecture.