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Architectural Terms
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55
Fine Art
Undergraduate 1
03/06/2010

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Term
abacus
Definition
a slab forming the top of the capital of a column
Term
ambulatory
Definition
passageway or aisle around the interior of a church or cathedral
Term
amphitheater
Definition
oval or round theater with tiers of seats gradually rising from a central arena
Term
apse
Definition
semicircular space at the end of a church sanctuary, often highly decorated
Term
arch
Definition
the curved or pointed structure spanning the top of an open space, such as a doorway, and supporting the weight above it
Term
architrave
Definition
lowest horizontal portion of the entablature, supported by column capitals
Term
atrium
Definition
room in the center of an ancient Roman house
Term
basilica
Definition
large rectangular building with a central nave and an apse at one or both ends, originally used in Rome for business and legal meetings, later adapted for early Christian churches
Term
buttress (or pier)
Definition
a projecting support or reinforcement of stone
Term
campanile
Definition
Italian for "bell tower"
Term
capital
Definition
decorative top part of a column that supports the entablature
Term
caryatids
Definition
sculpted female figure used in place of an architectural support
Term
catacombs
Definition
underground burial areas of early Christians
Term
cella
Definition
inner room of a Greek or Roman temple, where the temple's cult statue was kept
Term
chancel
Definition
the space around the alter of the church, usually enclosed, for the clergy and other officials
Term
clerestory
Definition
story of a building with windows
Term
coffers
Definition
square indentations of the underside of an arch, vault, or dome
Term
colonnade
Definition
a row of columns placed side by side, usually to support a roof or series of arches
Term
corinthian
Definition
ancient Greek order of architecture characterized by a capital ornamented with acanthus leaves, most decorative order
Term
cornice
Definition
a horizontal molding that forms the uppermost, projecting part of an entablature
Term
dome
Definition
a hemispherical vault
Term
doric
Definition
ancient Greek order of architecture characterized by a capital consisting of a square block supported by a cushion shape
Term
echinus
Definition
the cushion-shaped stone below the abacus of a doric capital
Term
entablature
Definition
the horizontal structure above the columns and capitals and below the roof
Term
entasis
Definition
slight bulge in the middle of a column
Term
fluting
Definition
vertical grooves on the surface of a column
Term
flying buttresses
Definition
characteristic of Gothic architecture, an arch-shaped buttress
Term
frieze (relief)
Definition
a band of ornamental carving or painting, especially the middle section of an entablature, between the architrave and the cornice
Term
gargoyle
Definition
gutter, carved usually in the form of a fantastic creature, the mouth serving as a waterspout, used to keep "evil spirits" away
Term
groin vaults
Definition
a vault or ceiling created by intersection of vaults
Term
ionic
Definition
ancient Greek order characterized by a capital in the shape of a curling volute scroll
Term
keystone
Definition
the wedge-shaped piece at the summit of an arch, regarded as holding the other pieces in place
Term
metopes
Definition
part of the entablature of the doric order, squarish in shape and painted/carved alternate with triglyphs
Term
minaret
Definition
in Islamic architecture, a tall slender tower attached to a mosque, from which the muezzin calls the faithful to prayer
Term
mosque
Definition
islamic house of worship
Term
narthex
Definition
entrance hall or vestibule of a church
Term
nave
Definition
long central space of a church, flanked on both sides by narrower aisles
Term
oculus
Definition
circular window, usually in the middle/top of a dome
Term
opisthodomos
Definition
a small room in the cella of a classical temple, as for a treasury
Term
pediment
Definition
in Classical architecture, a triangular space at the end of a building, formed by the cornice and the ends of the sloping roof
Term
pinnacle
Definition
a relatively small, upright structure, commonly terminating in a gable, pyramid or cone, rising about the roof of a building or capping a tower, buttress, or other projecting architectural member
Term
post and lintel
Definition
vertical posts supporting a horizontal lintel
Term
reliquary
Definition
decorative container for relics
Term
rose window
Definition
circular "wheel" window characteristic of Gothic architecture, at the west end of the cathedral
Term
sarcophagus
Definition
a stone coffin
Term
stylobate
Definition
forms the foundation for a colonnade, especially the outermost colonnade
Term
tracery
Definition
elaborate pattern of interlacing stone lines, especially in Gothic windows
Term
transept
Definition
the portion of the church at a right angle to the nave, between the nave and the choir, or apse
Term
triforium
Definition
the elevated galleries above the aisles of a church or cathedral
Term
triglyphs
Definition
part of the entablature of the doric order, have 3 sections and alternate with metopes
Term
tufa
Definition
a porous whitish stone that is soft when cut but hardens after exposure to air
Term
tympanum
Definition
semicircular area above a window or door
Term
volutes
Definition
spiral scroll ornaments, as on an Ionic capital
Term
vouissor
Definition
wedge-shape stones that makes up a true arch
Term
ziggurat
Definition
in ancient Near Eastern architecture, a monumental stepped base made of brick to support a temple
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