Developed in the western Dorian region of Greece in about the 6th century BC and very much a defining feature in today’s Neoclassical-style buildings, the Doric column represents the simplest of the five orders of classical architecture. Ancient Greek builders gradually developed these orders (rules) for the design and proportion of buildings and their features, the columns generally being very indicative of each style. Thus it follows that a Doric column has a plain and simple aesthetic compared to the later Ionic and Corinthian column styles, with no ornaments or carvings and smooth, round capitals. Doric columns are also typically thicker and heavier than Ionic or Corinthian columns, leading them to sometimes be associated with strength and masculinity. Ancient builders often used Doric columns for the lowest level of multi-story buildings as they could bear the most weight, reserving the thinner, more slight columns for upper levels.