verism
an interest in the faithful reproduction of the immediate visual and tactile appearance of subjects
engaged column
columns that are attached to a wall
aqueduct
structures with water conduits; a trough to carry flowing water, sometimes supported by arches
arch
a curved structural element that spans an open space
arcade
series of regularly spaced arched openings
voussoir
the oblong, wedge-shaped stone blocks used to build an arch
spandrel
wall areas adjacent to curves of an arch
barrel vault
a simple round arch that is lengthened to form a cylinder
groin vault
two barrel-vaulted spaces that intersect each other at right angles
mosaic
images formed by small colored stone or glass pieces affixed to a hard, stable surface
tesserae
small colored stone or glass pieces used in a mosaic
concrete
a building material developed by the Romans, made primarily from line, sand, cement, and rubble mixed w/ water
triumphal arch
a freestanding, massive stone gateway with a large central arch, built as urban ornament and/or to celebrate military victories (as by the Romans)
composite order
a combination of Ionic and the corinthian orders
rotunda
a circular room; any building (or part thereof) constructed in a circular (or sometimes polygonal) shape, usually producing a large open space crowned by a dome
drum
the circular wall that supports a dome
dome
a round vault, usually over a circular space
coffers
a recessed decorative panel that is used to reduce the weight of and to decorate ceilings or vaults
Edict of Milan (313 CE)
issued by Constantine granting freedom to all religious groups, including Christians
Augustus aka Octavian
concentrated real authority in himself, and his ascension marks the end of the republic
Titus
a Flavian emperor that helped restore imperial finances and stabilized the empire's frontiers
Hadrian
one of the "five good emperors" that oversaw a long period of stability and prosperity
Constantine "the Great
had a vision the night before battle- had shields inscribed with XP (Chi Rho); ruled as sole Roman emperor of the reunited empire until his death
catacomb
underground burial chamber consisting of different grounds or levels
menorah
a Jewish lamp-stand with seven or nine branches
basilica
a large rectangular building
longitudinal plan
any structure designed with a rectangular shape; if a cross-shaped building, the main arm of the building would be longer than any arms that cross it
nave
long, congregational area; the central aisle of a basilica, two or three stories high and flanked by aisles, and defined by the nave arcade or nave colonnade
aisles
passage or open corridor of a church, hall, or other building that parallels the main space, usually on both sides, and is delineated by a row of columns
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
apse
a semicircular projection at the opposite end of the nave from the narthex that functions as the building's focal point where the altar, raised on a platform, is located
transept
a wing that crosses the nave in front of the apse, making the building T-shaped
crossing
the juncture of the nave and the transept in a church, often marked on the exterior by a tower or dome
central plan
any structure designed with a primary central space surrounded by symmetrical areas on each side
conches
semi or half domes
pendentives
triangular curving wall sections; the concave triangular section of a vault that forms the transition between a square or polygonal space and the circular base of a dome
manuscript
a handwritten book or document; written by hand on parchment
parchment
specially prepared animal skin used as the 'paper' for manuscripts
illuminated manuscript
decorated or illustrated
folio
a manuscript page
codex
bound, rectangular book in the modern sense, rather than a scroll
icon
an image in any material representing a sacred figure or event in the Byzantine, and later the Orthodox, Church; venerated by the faithful, who believed them to have miraculous powers to transmit messages to God
iconoclasm
the banning or destruction of icons and religious art
cloisonne
an enamel technique in which metal wire or strips are affixed to the surface to form the design; the resulting areas are filled w/ enamel (colored glass)
St. Peter
the first bishop of Rome and therefore the first pope
Justinian
ruled during a time of political power, wealth and culture
Theodora
Empress that ably seconded Emperor Justinian
scriptorium
a room in a monastery for writing or copying manuscripts
westwork
the monumental, west-facing entrance section of a Carolingian, Ottonian or Romanesque church
monastery
sites of education and manuscript production
ribs, ribbed vaults
extra masonry demark the junctions of a groin vault; may function to reinforce the groins or may be purely decorative
relic
venerated objects associated with a saint or martyr
reliquary
a container, often made of precious materials, used as a repository for sacred relics
Charlemagne
Charles the Great; imposed Christianity
Bishop Bernward
TBD
pointed arch
TBD
flying buttresses
an arch built on the exterior of a building that transfers the thrust of the roof vaults at important stress points through the wall to a detached buttress pier leading to the wall buttress
stained glass
molten glass is given a color that becomes intrinsic to the material; additional colors may be fused to the surface; most often used in windows, for which small pieces of differently colored glass are precisely cut and assembled into a design
rose window
a round window, often filled with stained glass, with tracery patters in the form of wheel spokes; large, elaborate and finely crated, they are usually a central element of the facade of French Gothic cathedrals
Book of Hours
a private prayer book, having a calendar, services for the canonical hours, and sometimes, special prayers
grisaille
a painting executed primarily in shades of gray
Abbot Suger
one of the most important figures in the development of the Gothic style