syncretism
the act of bringing together disparate customs or beliefs. historians usually describe Roman culture as syncretistic, because Romans embraced many of the practices of those they conquered.
barrel vault
a vault formed by a continuous semicircular arch so that it is shaped like a half-cylinder
basilica
1. in ancient Roman architecture, a large, oblong building used as a public meeting place and hall of justice. it generally includes a nave, side aisles, and one or more apses
2. In Christian architecture, a longitudinal church derived from the Roman basi
annular
From the Latin word "ring". signifies a ring-shaped form, especially an annular barrel vault
orchestra
1. In an ancient Greek theater, the round space in front of the stage and below the tiers of seats, reserved for the chorus
2. in a Roman theater, a similar space reserved for important guests
tesserae
a small piece of colored stone, marble, glass, or gold-backed glass used in a mosaic.
belvedere
a structure made for the purpose of viewing the surroundings, either above the roof of a building or free-standing in a garden or other natural setting
module
1. a segment of a pattern
2. a basic unit, such as the measure of an architectural member. Multiples of the basic unit are used to determine proportionate construction of other parts of a building
encaustic
a technique of painting with pigments dissolved in hot wax
cubicula
a bedroom in a Roman house. a cubiculum usually opened onto the atrium. most were small; some contained wall-paintings
insula or insulae
Latin word for "island"
1. an ancient Roman city block
2. a Roman "apartment house": a concrete and brick building or chain of buildings around a central court, up to five stories high. the ground floor had shops and above were living quarters
trompe-l'oeil
meaning "trick of the eye" in French, it is a work of art designed to deceive a viewer into believing that the work of art is reality, an actual three-dimensional object or scene in space.
clerestory
a row of windows in the upper part of a wall that rises above an adjoining roof. its purpose is to provide direct lighting, as in a basilica or church
arcuated
the use of arches or a series of arches in a building
rostrum
1. a beaklike projection from the prow of an ancient warship used for ramming the enemy
2. in the Roman forum, the raised platform decorated with the beaks of captured ships from which speeches were delivered.
3. a platform, stage, or the like used for pu
atmospheric perspective
creates the illusion of depth by reducing the local color and clarity of objects in the distance, to imply a layer of atmosphere between the viewer and the horizon
composite capital
a capital that combines the volutes of an ionic capital with the acanthus leaves of the Corinthian capital. Roman architects developed the style as a substitute for the Ionic style, for use on secular buildings
tuscan style
an architectural style typical of ancient Italy. the style is similar to the Doric style, but the column shafts have bases
dome
a true dome is a vaulted roof of circular, polygonal, or elliptical plan, formed with hemispherical or ovoidal curvature. may be supported by a circular wall or drum and by pendentives or related constructions. Domical coverings of many other sorts have b
oculus
the Latin word for "eye". (1) a circular opening at the top of a dome used to admit light. (2) a round window
coffers
1. a small chest or casket
2. a recessed, geometrically shaped panel in a ceiling. a ceiling decorated with these panels is said to be coffered
liminal space
a transitional area, such as a doorway or archway. In Roman architecture, liminal spaces were often decorated with apotropaic devices
rotuli
the Latin word for scroll, a rolled written text
domus
Latin word for "house". a detached, one-family Roman house with rooms frequently grouped around two open courts. the first court, called the atrium, was used for entertaining and conducting business. the second court, usually with a garden and surrounded
impluvium
a shallow pool in a Roman house, for collecting rain water. the impluvium was usually in the atrium, and stood beneath a large opening in the roof, known as a compluvium
dado
the lower part of an interior wall. in a Roman house, the dado was often decorated with painting imitating costly marbles
still life
a term used to describe paintings (and sometimes sculpture) that depict familiar objects such as household items and food
aisles
the passageway or corridor of a church that runs parallel to the length of the building. it often flanks the nave of the church but is sometimes set off from it by rows of piers or columns
apse
a semicircular or polygonal niche terminating one or both ends of the nave in a Roman basilica. in a Christian church, it is usually placed at the east end of the nave beyond the transept or choir. it is also sometimes used a the end of transept arms.
martyria
a church, chapel, or shrine built over the grave of a Christian martyr or at the site of an important miracle
spolia
Latin for "hide stripped from an animal". Term used for (1) spoils of war and (2) fragments of architecture or sculpture reused in a secondary context
classicizing
to refer to the forms and ideals of the Classical world, principally Greece and Rome
veristic
from the Latin verus, meaning "true". describes a hyperrealistic style of portraiture that emphasizes individual charateristics
Catacomb
An underground cemetery. one consisting of tunnels and rooms with recesses dug out for coffins and tombs.
Syncretism
A blending of beliefs and practices from different religions into one faith.
basilica
In Roman architecture, a civic building for legal and other civic proceedings, rectangular in plan with an entrance usually on a long side. In Christian architecture, a church somewhat resembling the Roman basilica, usually entered from one end and with a
cross plan
Western influenced cruciform site. Plain building plan that mimics from Christ's crucifixion
nave
Main part of a Christian church, extending from the entrance (the narthex) to the transept or chancel (area around the altar).
transept
the crossing arm that bisects the nave and the apse and gives the characteristic cruciform shape to the floor plan.
crossing
is the junction of the four arms of a cruciform (cross-shaped) church
apse
A recess, usually semicircular, in the wall of a building, commonly found at the east end of a church
clerestory
The topmost zone of a wall with windows in a basilica extending above the aisle roofs. Provides direct light into the central interior space (the nave).
Constantinople
A place previously known as Byzantium which became the capitol of the Roman Empire or "new Rome
central plan
Eastern Orthodox churches, particularly large ones, combine a centrally planned, domed eastern end with an aisled nave at the west
ambulatory
A passageway around the apse or altar of a church.
icon
a panel depicting a sacred image
iconoclasm
the rejection or destruction of religious images as heretical; the doctrine of iconoclasts.
The Iconocast Controversy
a dispute over the use of religious images (icons) in the Byzantine Empire
Byzantium
the civilization that developed from the eastern Roman Empire following the death of the emperor Justinian (C.E. 565) until the fall of Constantinople in 1453.
illuminated manuscripts
a handwritten book decorated with bright colors and precious metals
codex
A book, or a group of manuscript pages (folios), held together by stitching
parchment/ vellum
a writing surface made from treated skin of animals
carpet page
In early medieval manuscripts, a decorative page resembling a textile.
cloisonn�
An enameling technique in which thin wire partitions-cloisons-are filled with enamel. It is an art form practiced in ancient Byzantium
interlace
lacing together; intermixed
Sutton Hoo
of two Anglo-Saxon cemeteries of the 6th century and early 7th century, one of which contained an undisturbed ship burial including a wealth of artifacts of outstanding art-historical and archaeological significance.
Staffordshire Hoard
Discovered in England in 2009; between 1500-2000 pieces of Anglo Saxon warfare gold; almost certainly stripped off the dead or taken as war booty
decorated initial / inhabited initial
is an enlarged letter at the beginning of a paragraph or other section of text, which contains a picture
four evangelists
The authors of the gospels;Matthew, Mark, Luke, John
monasteries
where do Christian men, Monks, gave up their possessions and devoted their lives to serving God, women were Nuns lived in Convents. Monks were very educated and opened schools, maintained libraries, and copied books. Also created illuminated manuscripts-e
scriptorium
large room in a monastery dedicated to the copying and maintaining of texts
chi rho
the first two Greek letters for Christ. the symbol Constantine sees in the sky which makes him believe the Christian God brought him victory even with a smaller army
Charlemagne
800 AD crowned by the Pope as the head of the Holy Roman Empire, which extended from northern Spain to western Germany and northern Italy. His palace was at Aachen in central Europe.
Aachen
Capital of Charlemagne's empire, c. 800; a city in present-day Germany
Holy Roman Empire
An empire established in Europe in the 10th century A.D., originally consisting mainly of lands in what is now Germany and Italy
Otto the great
First king crowned as emperor of the Holy Roman Empire
westwork
The facade and towers at the western end of a medieval church
gold leaf
Gold beaten into tissue-paper-thin sheets that then can be applied to surfaces.
barrel vault
the simplest form of vault consisting of an unbroken series of arches; it forms a tunnel like shape
transverse arch
Supporting arch which runs across the vault from side to side, dividing the bays. it usually projects down from the surface of the vault.
groin vault
Two barrel-vaulted spaces that intersect each other at the same level. Both the weight and outward thrust of the groin vault are concentrated on the four piers, so only the piers require buttressing.
compound pier
A pier with a group, or cluster, of attached shafts, or responds, especially characteristic of Gothic architecture.
bay
A subdivision of the interior space of a building. In Romanesque and Gothic churches, the transverse arches and piers of the arcade divide the building into bays.
arcade
A series of arches supported by columns, piers, or pillars, either freestanding or attached to a wall to form a gallery.
rib vault
A vault in which the diagonal and transverse ribs compose a structural skeleton that partially supports the masonry web between them.
choir
The area of the church between a transept and main apse. it is the area where the service is sung and clergy may stand, and the main or high altar is located.
reliquary
A container where religious relics are stored or displayed (especially relics of saints)
portal
A door, gate, or entrance, especially one of imposing appearance, as to a palace.
tympanum
Half-round panel that fills the space between the lintle and arch over the doorway of the church.
trumeau
In church architecture, the pillar or center post supporting the lintel in the middle of the doorway.
jambs
In architecture, the side posts of a doorway.
historiated capital
capital which is decorated with figures of animals, birds, or humans, used either alone or combined with foliage. The figures need not have any meaning, although they may be symbolic or part of a narrative sequence. Historiated capitals were most commonly
feudalism
A structure for social hierarchy that included Kings and Vassals and so on
The Crusades
Holy War" Fighting between Christians/Muslims over control of the Holy Land and subsequent trade routes.
pilgrimage
A journey to a place considered sacred for religious purposes.
William the Conqueror
French nobleman who won control of England at the Battle of Hastings; introduced feudalism to England
The Battle of Hastings
the battle that took place in 1066, in which William the Conqueror and Harold Godwinson fought for control of Normandy?
Abbot Suger
Abbot of Saint-Denis. Set the stage for the heavy decoration of costly stained-glass windows and sculptures in the cathedrals of the Gothic age. Mark the beginning of Gothic architecture.
Age of Cathedrals
During the Gothic Period when many cathedrals were built to replace earlier churches destroyed in fires.
rose window
a circular window with stained glass and stone tracery used on the facades and the ends of the transepts in Gothic cathedrals
lancets
tall, narrow windows ending in pointed arches
buttress
Support or encourage (v); a support or prop, esp. projecting from and supporting the wall of a building (n)
flying buttress
A free-standing support attached to the main vessel (nave, choir, or transept wall) by an arch or half-arch which transmits the thrust of the vault to the support attached to the outer wall of the aisle. Necessary for Gothic Cathedrals.
pinnacles
Sharply pointed ornaments capping piers of flying buttresses, turents, or tower corners.
trefoil
an architectural ornament in the form of three arcs arranged in a circle
quatrefoil
An ornamental design of four lobes or leaves as used in architectural tracery, resembling a flower or four-leaf clover.
gargoyle
a rain spout in shape of grotesque figure
grotesque
a figure so distorted or strange as to appear bizarre or comical, on top of a Gothic cathedral of other like buildings
Royal Portal
West facade (entrance), tripart (3 part entrance way), Jam sculptures on either sides of doorways, christ and four evangelists in the middle. Virgin on right. High relief, realistic sculpture
triforium
In a Gothic cathedral, the blind arcade gallery below the clerestory; occasionally, the arcades are filled with stained glass
bar tracery
Stained glass supportive technique, in which thin stone strips separate pieces of glass to provide extra support.
Rayonnant Style/ Court Style
the Radiant style, originating during the reign of Louis the Fourteenth in France, sometimes referred to as the Court style or "the style of the French." refers to the patterning of the windows which allowed for such radiant lighting.
Muhammad
Arab prophet and founder of Islam. In c.610, in Mecca, he received the first of a series of revelations that, as the Koran, became the doctrinal and legislative basis of Islam
The Night of Destiny
The night when the prophet Muhammad became Muhammad and started the Islamic religion
Mecca
City in western Arabia; birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad, and ritual center of the Islamic religion.
Muslim
A follower of Islam, means "one who has submitted
Qur'an
Islam's primary sacred text, regarded by Muslims as the direct words of Allah, revealed to Muhammad through the archangel Gabriel
caliph
A title that Muslims use for the highest leader of Islam.
aniconism
practice or belief in avoiding or shunning the graphic representation of divine beings or religious figures; no images of human figures, very often found in Islamic art
arabesque
Complex designs typical of Islamic art, combining intertwining plants and geometric patterns
qibla wall
the wall of a mosque that faces Mecca; the wall Muslims face when praying
mihrab
(Islam) a niche in the wall of a mosque that indicates the direction of Mecca
minbar
is a pulpit in the mosque where the Imam (leader of prayer) stands to deliver sermons
Five Pillars of Islam
true Muslims were expected to follow (principle of Salvation): belief in Allah, pray 5 times a day, giving of alms, fasting during Ramadan, pilgrimage to Mecca once in a lifetime
minaret
the tower attached to a mosque from which the muezzin, or crier, calls the faithful to prayer five times a day
horseshoe arch
An arch of more than a half circle which is typical in Islamic architecture
Early Christian Art
313-476 AD
Early Byzantine Art
330-843 AD
Middle & late Byzantine Art
843-1453 AD
Anglo Saxon Art
700 AD
Early Medieval Art (Insular Tradition)
680-800 AD
Early Medieval Art (Carolingian Empire)
800-900 AD
Early Medieval Art (Ottonian Empire)
900-1000 AD
Romanesque Art
1000-1140 AD
Gothic Art (Early, Transitional, High)
1140-1250 AD
Islamic Art (Dome of the Rock)
691
Islamic Art (Great mosque at Tunisia)
850
Islamic
650 - Present
Islam Background
Muhammad spread powerful religious message in the seventh century, spread throughout the world, expanded under Abbasid Caliphate, Mongol sack of Baghdad led to splitting into East and West, Sunni and Shiite sects
Patronage
mostly be the rulers and the social elite, also produced textiles, metalwork, and ceramics
Calligraphy
based upon the Arabic script, beautiful writing, HIGHEST ART FORM, transmitted texts from God to Muhammad
Qiblah
direction, had to be pointed to Mecca
Mihrab
an empty niche, directs the worshipper's attention
Minarets
tall towers in the corner of temples, everywhere, tall shafts with internal stair cases
Muezzins
call people to prayer
Arabesque
ornate design featuring intertwined curves; a ballet position in which one leg is extended in back while the other supports the weight of the body
Tessellation
a repeating pattern of plane figures that completely cover a plane with no gaps or overlaps
Kufic
one of the scripts for calligraphy, highly distinguished, reserved for official texts, traditional text for the Koran, highly evolved into new ornamental way
Jali
ornamental stone screens
Islamic Carpet
particularly treasured, centrally organized carpet design, prayer rugs, bearing the mihrab motif, placed on mosque floors
Islamic Art
intellectual, refined, decorative, contains now strong emotion, harmony, avoids religious imagery, much animal imagery, mosques have great variety
Muqarnas
an elaborate orchestration of suspended facets
Dome of the Rock
domed wooden octagon, influenced by Santa Costanza, columns from Roman monuments, sacred rock where Adam was buried, Abraham nearly sacrificed Isaac, Muhammad ascended, etc.
Great Mosque Cordoba
SPAIN, double-arched columns, brilliantly articulated in alternating bands of color, light and airy interior, horseshoe-shaped arches, hypostyle mosque, no central focus, vaulting replaced original wooden ceiling, complex dome with squinches, columns are
Frieze from Mshatta
740-750, Jordan, richly carved stone, triangle pattern, rosettes, vegetal design, intricate scrolls, birds, vine, and animals, walls 16.5 feet tall
Court of the Lions
1354-1391 palace in SPAIN, light airy interiors, 16 windows at top, abstract patterns, abstraction of forms, 5000 muqarnas, sophisticated interior
Sinan, Mosque of Selim II
extremely thin minarets, abundant window space, inspired by Hagia Sophia, but centrally planned, octagonal interior, open airy contrasts, part of a complex including hospital, school, library, etc.
Persian Manuscripts
descends from rich and diverse heritage, illustrated manuscripts from Islamic world, give visual image to a literary plot, some were done under the school of Chinese Painting, further influenced Indian art later, admired intricate details and geometric pa
Mecca
birthplace of Muhammad, city all Muslims turn to in prayer
Medina
where Muhammad was first accepted as the Prophet
Mihrab
a central niche in a mosque, indicates the direction to Mecca
Hiberno-Saxon Art
6th-8th centuries, British Isles
Viking Art
8th - 11th centuries, Scandinavia
Carolingian Art
8th-11th centuries, France Germany
Ottonian Art
10th-11th centuries, Germany
Medieval Art Background
almost everything that was known was old, breakthroughs had not come since the Romans, mass migrations killed off much, Vikings conquered, Europe reached a stability under Charlemagne,
Monasteries
principal centers of learning, artists who could read and write honored the creation of manuscripts
Artistic Life
artists did not have freshness or new creations, mostly copied works of ancient literature, did not record literature or folk tales
Codex
manuscript books, major artforms were the decorations of these, made from vellum or parchment, hides cut into sheets and soaked in lime, then dried
Vellum
calf hide
Parchment
sheep or goat hide
Scriptoria
writing places where monks or nuns could decorate the manuscripts
Sutton Hoo Purse Cover
scene of a ship burial, backing of ivory or bone, bag of leather, animal style, heraldic composition, interlacing, legs and arms intertwined, cloisonne, SAXON
Saxon Art
cloisonne with horror vacui designs, animal style, hoard of gold found and forced to reconsider
Hiberno-Saxon Art
refers to the art of the British Isles, Ireland, ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPTS, relies on interlace patterns, borders of stylized combat patterns, exceptional handling of color and form
Saint Matthew
BOOK OF LINDISFARNE, tempera, seat on bench, reading the Bible, impsiration from God, angel above him, flattened, LINEAR elements, HIBERNO-SAXON
Chi-Rho-Iota
page from the BOOK OF KELLS, lavish decoration, interlacing, heads and figures appear in patterning, initials are dominant motifs, HIBERNO-SAXON
Viking Art
inspired by animals and spirals in interlacing patterns, characterized as applied art, engraved on incised onto functional objects
Animal Head Post
from Oseberg Ship Burial, 834, snarling mouth, wide open eyes, interlace on head, nostrils flaring, VIKING
Carolingian Art
named for CHARLEMAGNE, first revival of classical art, characterized by elaborate westworks, accompanied by monastic buildings, influenced by Byzantine, manuscript painting and drawing, not too much painting
Lorsch Gatehouse
three arched openings are divided by engaged columns, Arch of Constantine, fluted pilasters, Carolingian patterning motifs, chapel on upper story, originally reception room, building stood in an atrium
Cloister
open-air courtyard for monks and nuns to live
Equestrian Statue of a Carolingian Ruler
holds an orb, importance of the symbol of the world, influenced by Marcus Aurelius statue, rider much larger than horse, little attention to movement of hose, 9th Century
Utrecht Psalter
richly illustrated ink drawings of psalms of the Bible, monochrome, legible script, visual richness of imagery, style characterized by agitated gestures
Palatine Chapel
AACHEN, GERMANY, 792-805, centrally-planned chapel built for Charlemagne, resemblance to San Vitale, dome composed of spherical triangles, throne is in gallery, largest arches are on second floor, CAROLINGIAN
St. Gall
plan of an ideal self-sufficient monastic community of 3000 people, church in the center, cloistered monks, workshops, houses, daily activities, CAROLINGIAN
Ottonian Art
influenced by Roman and Early Christian past, large stone churches epitomize existing Ottonian architecture, bronze doors, interior arches do not line up one atop the other, flat and unadorned walls, very little interruption in blank space
Saint Michael's
OTTONIAN, Hildesheim, Germany 1001-1033, church has two transepts, each with two crossing towers, lateral entrances act as narthexes and lobbies, support of nave arcade alternates pair of columns and square piers, windows do not line up with arches below
Bishop Bernward Doors
two 15-feet-tall doors, imperial overtones, Fall and Redemption of Man, rectangular panels with few figures, bare landscapes, bony figures, emphasis on limbs
Gero Crucifix
large monumental sculpture, life-size wooden work, emotional suffering, rounded forms, Jesus Christ handing from cross for first time, commissioned by Gero, COLOGNE CATHEDRAL, GERMANY
Animal Form
a medieval art form in which animals are depicted in a stylized and complicated pattern
Colophon
inscription at the end of a manuscript containing relevant information on its publication
Horror Vacui
fear of empty spaces", type of artwork in which the entire surface is filled with objects, people, designs, and ornaments
Westwork
a monumental entrance to a Carolingian Church that has two towers flanking a lower central entrance
Charlemagne
king of the Franks who conquered much of Western Europe, great patron of literature and learning
Early Byzantine
500-726
Iconoclasm
726-843
Middle/High Byzantine
843-1204
Late Byzantine
1204-1453
Byzantine History
called themselves Romans, born from a split in the Roman world, eastern half of the Roman empire flourished under Constantine at Constantinople, spoke GREEK, promoted orthodox Christianity, trading center of the world, orthodox faith spread with art, icon
Icons
images that act as reminders to the faithful, not intended to be the sacred person themselves, heated debate emerged, led to the ICONOCLASM, Early Byzantine art was largely destroyed as a result
Patronage
CHURCH and STATE, many works of art were commissioned by church, buildings were crowded with religious works, strong court developed around the royal household, individual artists worked with piety, rarely signed their names
Anthemius and Isidorus
invented the pendentive
Pendentive
a triangle-shaped piece of masonry with the dome resting on one long side, other two sides channeled the weight down to a pier below
Squinch
can take a number of shapes and forms, does the same thing as a pendentive, transitions the weight of a dome onto a flat rather than rounded wall
Byzantine Architecture
not known for its size, plain exteriors made of brick and concrete, provocative colors of brick, stone, and marble, small domes, interiors marked with colored marbles, mosaics, frescoes, domes are low, small floor space, vertical emphasis, interior arches
Hagia Sophia
ANTHEMIUS AND ISIDORUS, combination of centrally planned and axially planned church, exterior is plane, altar at end of nave, emphasis placed on area covered by dome, cornice unifies space, arcade is decorated, large fields for mosaic decoration, MINARETS
San Vitale
eight-sided church, plane exterior added later, large windows for illuminating interior designs, thin columns, open arched spaces, 526-547
Monastery Churches
exterior shows decorative placement of stonework and soft interplay, large windows are punctuated by small holes, interior wall areas dissolve into delicate arches, small dome with windows at drum, church has a light interior filled with mosaics and fresc
Saint Mark's Cathedral
five domes placed in a cross pattern, windows at base of dome, figures are weightless in a field of gold mosaics, prominent iconostasis, compartmentalized space of Middle Byzantine, church contains relics of Saint Mark, 1063
Saint Basil's Cathedral
commissioned by Ivan the Terrible, tall slender pyramid-like central tower crowned by small onion-shaped dome, central spire, low flat rounded arches, 1555-1561
Byzantine Painting
mostly centered around the icon, devotional image, PORTABLE, wooden foundation with paint over it, cloth used as base, varnish then added to make it shine, placed in precessions, combination of Greece and Rome, more formal medieval style, trained in one t
Manuscripts
jewel-like treatment, fine eye for detail, great precision, employ the use of gold, seen in icons and mosaics, status symbol, true temples of learning
Pantocrator
ruler of the world
Byzantine Shortcut
FLAT FRONTAL FLOATING GOLD
Purple
color reserved for Byzantine royalty, can be seen in mosaics of Justinian, purple is used on the garments
Justinian and Attendants
clergy to the left, military to his right, dressed in royal purple, symmetry, frontal, holds bowl for eucharist, slight impression of forward, no volume, seem to float and overlap, little background, Maximianus identified, Halo suggests saintliness, 547
Theodora and Attendants
slight displacement of absolute symmetry, richly robed empress, stands in architectural framework, holding chalice, flattened and weightless figures, three Magi, SAN VITALE
Sant'Apollinare
stark unadorned brickwork on outside, interior decorations symbolize soul, first bishop of RAVENNA, twelve sheep represent apostles, Moses and Elijah, hand of God
Paris Psalter
book of Psalms, figures and landscape based on classical models, brilliant and balanced color, dynamic contrast between muscular bodies and stiff drapery, David playing harp, personification of Echo, muscular, classically inspired, arcs and curves dominat
Pantocrator
sees and understands all as he looks down, stern, severe, awesome, menacing, forked beard above chin, monument set on a sea of gold, Bible in wright hand, DAPHNI and SICILY, Eleventh Century
Old Testament Trinity
repeating forms from older art, heads are nearly identical, poses are mirror images, luminous colors, deep harmony, colors, spaceless background
Byzantine Sculpture
small, ivory or precious metals, unparalleled and richness, deep undercutting of figures
Saint Michael the Archangel
Ivory, Sixth Century, one leaf of an ivory dipytch, classical drapery, facial type, detailed classicaly architecture, imperial imagery, Saint Michael hovers over arch, spatial ambiguity
Harbaville Triptych
950, ivory, individualized heads, frontality broken up by slight turns of body, crisp lines, hieratic composition, angels appear, jewel-like delicacy, etc.
Codex
a manuscript book
Iconostasis
a screen decorated with icons
Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all have in common that they
are "religions of the book.
According to the Hebrew Bible, Solomon built the First Temple in Jerusalem
to house the Ark of the Covenant.
The mosaic floor of the Beth Alpha Synagogue contains
winged personifications of the seasons.
In a Christian church the altar is placed in the transept.
apse.
The term spolia refers to
material reused from earlier buildings.
The central-plan church of Santa Costanza was originally built as
the mausoleum of Constantina, daughter of Constantine.
Annunciation.
The episode from the life of Jesus in which the archangel Gabriel informs the Virgin Mary that God has chosen her to bear his Son is known as the
The term "Byzantine" broadly refers to the art and architecture
of Constantinople and its surrounding regions
To support their domes, Byzantine builders preferred
pendentives.
A place of worship within a monastery or convent is known as a/an
abbey church.
The campaign of iconoclasm that was started in 726
ordered the destruction of devotional images.