Abacus
A slab forming the top of the capital of a column.
Acropolis
The citadel or fortress of an ancient Greek city, typically built on a hill.
Ambulatory
The passage around the apse in a basilica church or around the central space in a central-plan building.
Aisle
A lateral division in a church flanking the nave or chancel
Arcade
A series of arches carried by columns or piers.
Apse
A semicircular or polygonal recess in a building. In Christian architecture, an apse is often found at the east end of a basilica church.
Arabesque
A European term for a type of surface decoration typical of Islamic art. Arabesque decoration is based on foliage motifs and characterized by flowing, swirling and intertwining lines.
Arch
A curved masonry construction for spanning an opening, consisting of a number of wedgelike stones, bricks, or the like, set with the narrower side toward the opening in such a way that forces on the arch are transmitted as vertical or oblique stresses on
Atrium
1) The formal entrance hall of an ancient Roman house, open to the sky at the center and usually featuring a pool for the collection of rain water.
2) In a basilica church, a colonnaded courtyard preceding the entrance.
3) In contemporary architecture, an
Basilica
1) In Roman architecture a large public building with a nave, aisles, and an apse, used for law courts, markets, and public assemblies.
2) A building similar to a Roman basilica, used as a Christian church.
Capital
A sculpted block that tops a column.
Capstone
See corbeled dome. ? In a corbeled dome each course of stone projects inward beyond the lower course until they meet at the top with a capstone.
Catacomb
An underground cemetery consisting of tunnels on multiple levels. Catacombs were provided with shelf-like niches (loculi) for regular burials and "bedrooms" (cubicula) for more elite burials.
Cella
The main interior room of a Greek or Roman temple, where the cult statue was placed. Also called the naos.
Central-plan
In architecture, a plan in which the parts of a building radiate from a central point.
Clerestory
1) The upper story of a basilica church, extending above the roofs of the aisles. The clerestory was usually pierced by windows to admit light into the interior.
2) In contemporary architecture, a upper wall similarly provided with windows.
Column
An architectural element consisting of a shaft, round or polygonal in section, and used for structural support or decoration. Columns usually are placed on a base and topped by a capital. Columns that are attached to a wall are called engaged columns or h
Caryatid
A caryatid is a sculpted female figure serving as an architectural support taking the place of a column or a pillar supporting an entablature on her head. The Greek term karyatides literally means "maidens of Karyai", an ancient town of Peloponnese.
Coffers
Recessed decorative features used to decorate ceilings, vaults or domes.
Corbel
A architectural bracket or block projecting from a wall and designed to support a structure above it, such as a cornice or arch.
Crenellation
A pattern of multiple openings along the top of a defensive wall, through which arrows or other weapons can be shot, used especially in medieval architecture. Also known as a battlement.
Dome
In architecture a vault, usually circular at the base and rising above the central part of a building. Domes come in a wide variety of forms, including saucer-shaped, onion-shaped, pumpkin-shaped, bulbous, parabolic, and hemispheric. A dome can be elevate
Doric order
The oldest and simplest of the three main orders of classical Greek architecture, characterized by heavy fluted columns with plain, saucer-shaped capitals and no base.
Fa�ade
The "face" of a building, especially the principal front that looks onto a street or open space.
Finial
In architecture, the decorative upper termination of a pinnacle, gable end, buttress, canopy, or spire.
Fluting
Shallow decorative grooves running the length of a column or pilaster.
Keystone
The central voussoir at the apex of an arch. During construction, the keystone "locks" the other voussoirs into place.
Lunette
(French: "little moon"). A semicircular architectural space that can be filled with a painting, a mosaic, relief sculpture or a window.
Mastaba
An ancient Egyptian tomb rectangular in plan with sloping sides and a flat roof. The entire mastaba consists of the underground burial chamber and the rooms above it at ground level, in which offerings were stored.
Metope
In ancient Greek architecture, the space between two triglyphs in a Doric frieze. Metopes were often decorated with relief sculpture or painted decoration.
Mosque
A building used by Muslims for communal worship. Arabic: masjid.
Maqarnas
Decorative device in Islamic architecture, like a small pointed niche, used in tiers projecting over those below, usually constructed of corbelled brick, stone, stucco, or wood.
Narthex
A transverse-oriented hall preceding the nave of a church and functioning as a vestibule.
Naos
See cella. ? The main interior room of a Greek or Roman temple, where the cult statue was placed. Also called the naos.
Nave
The central space of a church. In a basilica church, the nave is usually flanked by aisles.
Oculus
In Roman architecture, a circular window (from Latin oculus, "eye").
Orthogonal
Pertaining to or involving right angles or perpendiculars:
Prairie-style
In architecture, American style exemplified by the low-lying "prairie houses" such as Robie House (1908) that were for the most part built in the Midwest between 1900 and 1917 by Frank Lloyd Wright.
Pedestal
An architectural support or base, as for a column or statue.
Pediment
A wide, low-pitched gable at the top of the fa�ade of a building. The pediment is formed by the sloping roof and the horizontal cornice.
Pillar (Pilaster)
A shallow, rectangular decorative feature projecting from a wall. A pilaster usually has a capital and a base, like a flattened column.
Portal
A doorway, entrance, or gate, especially one that is large and imposing.
Portico
A structure consisting of a roof supported by columns at regular intervals, usually attached to a building as a porch.
Qibla
The direction to the Kaaba in Mecca, towards which Muslims are required to pray. Most mosques contain a niche, the mihrab, that indicates the qibla.
Quatrefoil
An ornamental shape that has four lobes.
Rotunda
Any building or room constructed on a circular plan, often topped by a dome.
Sanctuary
A sacred place, set apart from the profane, ordinary world. Originally, sanctuaries were natural locations, such as groves or hills, where the divine or sacred was believed to be especially present. The concept was later extended to include man-made struc
Transept
In a cruciform church, the part of the building oriented perpendicular to the nave.
Vault
An arched structure, usually built of stone masonry, brick or concrete, serving to cover a space. Types include the barrel vault, rib vault and groin vault.
Veneer
A thin sheet of a high-quality material covering other material
Volute
Spiral scrolls found on Ionic, Corinthian and Composite capitals.
Ziggurat
In ancient Mesopotamia, a stepped tower of earthen materials, often supporting a temple or shrine.