acanthus: A Mediterranean plant. The leaves are thick, fleshy, and scalloped. A stylization of the acanthus leaf was often used in ancient decoration, especially the Corinthian capital
aisle: Open area of a church parallel to the nave and separated from it by columns or piers.
altar In the Roman
Church, a table at which
the celebration of the Eucharist takes place.
It is placed in a prominent
place in the church, usually in the choir
facing the main entrance to the
church.
alternation of support:
A system of
supports for an arcade or colonnade in which
there are two
different
types of support. The alternation may be quite obvious
between one pier
(strong
support) and one column (weak support), or the alternation may
exist
only in slight differences in the shafting on each pier.
ambulatory: A
semicircular or polygonal aisle which leads around the east end of
the
choir; often separating the choir from apses or chapels.
applied or engaged column: A column which
is attached to the wall so that only half of the
form projects from the
wall
apse:
An extension or
projection from a building, generally circular or
polygonal
Contrast with niche.
arcade:
A series of arches supported by columns or piers.
arch:
A curved structural member
spanning an opening or recess. The
wedge shaped
elements that make up an arch keep one another in palce and transform the
vertical pressure of the structure above into lateral pressure.
architrave:
The lintel or flat horizontal
member which spans the space
between the columns; in classical
architecture, the lowest member of an
entablature.
archivolt:
Decorative bands or mouldings surrrounding an arched opening.
atrium:
An open
courtyard at the west end of a building, usually
surrounded by covered
aisles. The atrium of the Early Christian church
was originally a place
for the catechumens to wait during the celebration
of the Eucharist.
baptismal font:
A receptacle for water, used for baptismal Early
Christian
baptism took place by total immersion, so the baptismal font
was large
and generally built into the floor of a separate building called
a
baptistery.
Later, particularly in northern Europe, child baptism
replaced adult
baptism so the font could be made smaller and was usually
placed in the
church building itself
See also east end
B
bar tracery:
Tracery which is composed of thin stone elements rather than thick ones as in plate tracery The glass rather than the stone dominates when bar tracery is used. It gives a more delicate, web-like effect.bay:
blind arcade:
A row of decorative arches which looks like an arcade
but
is attached to a wall surface and has no real openings.
blind arch:
An arch which encloses an opening in a wall which may appear
to be a
window but which is actually only a shallow indentation in the
wall.
block, cushion, or cubic capital:
boss
A projecting stone, placed on the intersection of the ribs
of a vault. It is often covered with sculpture and may be
the keystone.
campanile: Italian name for a bell tower, usually one that is detached from the main building.
capital: Decorative element that divides a column or pier from the masonry which it supports.
centrally-planned building: A building in which the sides are of equal length and in which the main space is symmetrical when bisected laterally and longitudinally. A centrally-planned building may be square, circular, or polygonal. The most important feature of a centrally-planned building is the open space at the center of the building, developed around a vertical axis.
ciborium: (1) A box in which
the
Host (wafers or bread for the Eucharist) is kept and
(2) A canopy
resting on columns over the altar.
cinqfoil:
A
five-lobed ornamental shape.
chalice:
A cup on a stem, used to contain the ecuharistic
wine; same
shape was also used in a secular context
chapter house: A meeting place for the
chapter or governing body of a
monastery or a cathedral.
chevron: A zig-zag
motif.
clerestory: An upper story of a building
with windows above adjacent roofs.
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. In some churches there is no choir,
while in others, the choir is quite large and surrounded by an
ambulatory.
choir
screen: A screen, made of wood or
stone,
usually decorated with painting or
sculpture, which separates the choir
from the rest of the
church
cloister: Part of a monastery; a
quadrangle-le surrounded by covered
passages. It connects the domestic
parts of the monastery with the
church. Usually located on the south
side of the church.
cloister vault or segmented
dome:
A dome placed over a polygonal
base. It is not a semi-sphere, but is
formed of curved sections which
correspond to the parts of the polygon on
which it rests.
coffer:
The sunken area created between the crossing of structural
members.
Coffers often appear in a flat ceiling or
on the interior surface of a dome.
They are often the focus of
decoration and serve also to lighten the
weight of the structure.
colonnade:
A row of columns which support horizontal members, called an
architrave, rather than arches
column:
A cylindrical support, usually structural but often decorative.
column base Needs
definition
See also column, pier, shaft, capital, abacus
composite pier:
A type of pier that is composed not of a single member but has
shafts,
half-columns, or pilaster strips attached to it.
confessio:
A type of crypt which consists of a series of linked passages.
The most
famous confessio crypt during the Middle Ages was that of
Old Saint Peter's church in Rome,
which contained the tomb os Saint Peter.
corbel: A projection from a wall
which sometimes supports (or appears to support)
a structural member such as a shaft.
Corinthian capital
:
A capital used originally by the Greeks
in a system
of supports called the Corinthian order. The Corinthian
capital was
developed further in Roman times and used often in the
medieval period,
again, without strict adherence to the rest of the
system. The
Corinthian capital is more ornate than the Ionic. It is
decorated with 3
superimposed rows of carved foliage (acanthus leaves)
around the capital.
At the comers of the capital there are small
volutes. The Corinthian
capital is essentially the same from all sides.
Adaptations of the
Corinthian capital are common in the Middle Ages.
crenelation:
Get Definition
crocket capital
:
A simplified adaptation of the Corinthian capital. The
crocket capital
was commonly used in the Gothic period.
cross section Needs definition
compare with ground plan.
crossing:
Area of a church where the at nave, choir, and transept
intersect.
crossing pier:
In the interior of a building, a support that is placed
at one of the corners of the crossing.
crossing tower:
The tower which sometimes occurs above the space at the
intersection of the nave, chancel, and transept
of a church.
Cross section: needs definition
crozier: A staff
carried by a bishop, archbishop, abbot or abbess. It
is in the shape of a
shepherd's crook, and has symbolic significance
connected with the New
Testament idea of Christ as shepherd of a flock.
The crook and staff of
the crozier may be heavily decorated.
crypt:
An underground chamber for relics or tombs.
cusp:
A curved, triangular-shaped
projection from the inner curve of an
arch or circle.
dado:
Lower part of an interior wall,
often decorated with arcading.
depressed arch:
A flattened arch, slightly
pointed on top. It appears
in Late Gothic of the fifteenth and
sixteenth centuries.
diagonal ribs:
The moldings which mark
the diagonals in a rib vault
See also rib vault.
dome:
A hemispherical
vault
drum:
A cylindrical wall which supports a dome.
drum pier:
Find definition
See also: pier, alternation of support
Other
types of piers: composite
east end: Refers to the end of the
church where the main altar is placed
and where the main part of the
service takes place. Generally, medieval
churches were oriented toward
the east. However, topography of the land
or other factors may have
prevented an absolute east- west orientation
for a church. The term
east end, is generally used to describe the area
where the main altar is
placed in a medieval church, even in those cases
where the church is not
oriented exactly toward the east. Some
buildings, notably Old Saint
Peter's in Rome, were oriented to the west.
Contrast with west
end
Ecclesia:
Personification of church.
Often appears with Synagoga
(Personification of Judaism):
both appear as female figures, Ecclesia
crowned and holding a chalice
and Synagogo with tablets of law and
blindfolded
engaged or applied column: A column which
is
attached to the wall so that only half of the form projects from the
wall
F
facade:The front or face of a building, generally an area of the
exterior that contains an entrance. Some medieval buildings have a main
facade or western facade and additional north and south facades at the
ends of the transepts when there are major entrance ways at these
locations
See also west end
fan vault: A vault which
consists of fan-shaped half cones which usually
meet at the center of a
vault.
See also: rib vault
Other types of rib vaults: net,
quadripartite, sexpartite, crazy
fleur-de-lis
Stylized
lily which served as symbol for the French monarchy
fluting: Shallow, concave grooves running vertically on a column,
pilaster, or other surface
See also: column, shaft, pier, pilaster
Flying butress:
foliate capital : Needs definition
See also
capital, column,
Other types of capital: Corinthian, cushion,
crocket, historiated,
Ionic
G
Greek
cross
: A cross with four arms of equal
length
groin vault: A vault produced by
the intersection at right angles of two
barrel (tunnel) vaults.(4B)
groin vault: A vault produced by the intersection at right angles of two
barrel
vaults. Sometimes the arches of groin vaults may be pointed
instead of
round.
See also: barrel vault
ground plan or
floor plan: Horizontal cross-section of a building as the
building would
look at ground level. A ground plan shows the basic
outlined shape of a
building and, usually, the outlines of other interior
and exterior
features.
Compare with cross section
interlace:A decorative
motif consisting of threads passing aver and
under each other like
threads in lace
intersecting arches: Arches which cross over each
other. in an arcade
See also: arcade, blind arcade
Ionic
capital: A capital used originally by the Greeks in a system of
supports
called the Ionic order. The Ionic order is based on a set of
proportions and includes a particular kind of column base and lintel as
well as capital. The order was also used by the Romans. In the medieval
period, the capital was often used without a strict adherence to the rest
of the system. An Ionic capital has a volute, or a spiral scroll-like
carving, on each side as its major decoration. Ionic capitals are
relatively rare in medieval buildings
See also capital, column,
Other types of capital: Corinthian, cushion, crocket, foliate,
historiated
J
jamb: A vertical element of a doorway or window frame
See also : trumeau, jamb figures
jamb figures: Statues carved on
the jambs of a doorway or window. Jamb
statues were often human figures-
either religious figures or secular or
ecclesiastical leaders.
See
also : jamb. trumeau figure
K
keystone: The voussoir at the top of
an arch; in vaulting it occurs at
the intersection of the ribs of a
rib
vault. It is important structurally since it marks the apex of the
vault
See also: voussoir, vault, rib vault, boss
L
lantern:
A small circular or polygonal structure, with windows all around the
base, which opens
above a larger tower or dome
Latin coss
:A cross with three short arms and one long arm.
lesene:
A pilaster without base or capital, also called a pilaster
strip.
pilaster or pilaster strip: A flat, projecting element of vertical
masonry, as opposed to a circular
shaft or half-column, attached to a
wall or pier. (4A, 6A).
Contrast with pilaster
See also
column, capital, base,
lierne:A minor rib in a complex rib
vault. Liemes do not spring from
the main springers .
Other
types of ribs: diagonal, ridge, tierceron, transverse
See also rib
vault
lintel: Flat horizontal beam which spans the space between
two supports.
MAS some as architrave????
loggia: An exterior
gallery, open on one or more sides, with a colonnade
or an arcade.
longitudinal barrel vault: A barrel (or tunnel) vault which follows
the
main longitudinal direction of the nave. Usually when a vault is
referred to simply as a barrel (or tunnel) vault, it may be assumed to be
a longitudinal barrel vault.
Other types of barrel vault:
transverse
See also: barrel vault, groin vault
longitudinal
ridge rib: A rib which runs down the apex of the vault in a
longitudinal
direction.
Other types of ribs: diagonal, lierne, tierceron,
transverse
See also rib vault.
longitudinally-planned
building: A building developed along a horizontal
axis
Contrast
with centrally-planned building
lozenge: A diamond shape
M
mausoleum:
Structure for a tomb.
Compare with: sarcophagus, memorial brass
memorial brass: Needs definition
Compare with mausoleum,
sarcophagus
monstrance: Reliquery which contains an
opening through which the relics inside can be viewed.
N
nail-head: An ornamental motif of small
pyramids, said to represent the heads of nails. Very popular in the 12th
century
narthex: A low projection at the
western end of a church, like a
porch. Although narthex is sometimes
used synonymously with westwork, a
narthex is usually more open and
often has only one story in contrast to
the more closed westwork with a
large open chamber on the upper level.
Generally a narthex is narrower
than the width of the nave and aisles
while the westwork is broader, but
it is often difficult to distinguish a
westwork from a narthex on plans
or photographs.
Compare with westwork, screen facade
See
also west end, facade
net vault: A vault on which a complex of ribs
gives a net-like
appearance
See also: rib vault
Other
types of rib vaults: rib, quadripartite, sexpartite, crazy
niche:A recess in the thickness of a wall.
ogee arch or
ogive: An arch with a pointed apex, formed by the
intersection of two S
curves usually confined to decoration and not used
in arcade arches.
Ogee arches were used only in the late Gothic period
Other types
of arches: depressed, horseshoe
P
paten:
A plate on which the
eucharistic wafer was
placed.
pendant: A hanging architectural member formed by
ribs. Not to be
confused with pendentive
Compare with pendentive
Pendants ofthe appear in conjunction with fan vaults
pendentive:
A
spherical triangle which acts as a transition between a circular
dome
and a square base on which the dome is set
pier:
An upright support, generally square,
rectangular, or composite. In
medieval architecture there are massive
circular supports called drum
piers.
pilaster:
A true pilaster is a rectangular
element of vertical masonry which
projects only slightly from the wall
and has both a capital and a
base
pinnacle:
A pointed termination of a spire, butress, or other
extremity of a
building. Pinnacles are sometimes ornamented.
portal: Any doorway or
entrance but especially one that is large and
imposing.
See also
lintel, jamb, trumeau
processional cross
Large cross on a staff,
carried in processions on
feast days of various church
holidays
pyx: a small box with a lid to contain the consecrated
host
quadripartite rib vault: A rib vault
which is divided into four
sections.
quadripartite rib vault: A rib
vault which is divided into four sections
by two diagonal ribs
See also: rib vault
Other types of rib vaults: net, fan,
sexpartite, crazy
quatrefoil:
An ornamental form which has
four lobes or foils. It may
resemble a four-petaled
flower
refectory:
Dining room in a monastery
Other parts of monastery: chapter house,
cloister, scriptorium
retable: An altarpiece, decorated with
painting or sculpture which
stands at the
back of an. altar
rib:
An arch of masonry, often molded, which forms part of the framework
on
which a vault rests.
Ribs generally project from the undersurface of the
vault
Types of ribs: diagonal, transverse, ridge, tierceron,
lierne
Compare with webbing
rib vault: A masonry vault with a
relatively thin web and set within a
framework of ribs
Types
of rib vaults: net, fan, quadripartite, sexpartite, crazy
Compare with: barrel vault
sarcophagus: Needs definition
Compare with mausoleum, memorial brass
screen facade: Used here to
refer to a facade which is so highly
decorated with sculpture or other
decorative elements that it acts as a
screen placed in front of the
facade. It may seem to hide the face of
the building from view.
Compare with westwork, narthex
See also west end, facade
scriptorium: area in a monastery where books and documents were written,
copied, and illuminated
Other parts of monastery: chapter house,
cloister, refectory
shaft: Needs definition
See also column,
pier, capital, column base, abacus
segmented dome or cloister vault
:
A dome placed over a polygonal base.
It is not a semi-sphere, but is
formed of curved sections which
correspond to the parts of the polygon on
which it rests.
semi-dome :
A half
dome.
sexpartite rib vault: A rib vault which is divided
into six sections.
sexpartite rib vault: A rib vault whose surface is
divided into six
sections by three ribs
See also: rib vault
Other types of rib vaults: net, quadripartite, fan, crazy
socle:
low projecting base for a wall or statue
See also jamb figures,
trumeau figure
spandrel: The roughly triangular wall space
between two adjacent arches
See also arcade
spire:
An
elongated, pointed structure which rises from a tower, turret, or
roof
springer: Needs
definition
squinch
:
An arch, or a system of concentrically
wider and gradually projecting
arches, placed at the corners of a square
base to act as the transition
to a circular dome placed on the
base.
stringcourse: A continuous
projecting horizontal band set in the
surface of a wall and
usually
molded
Synagoga
Personification
of Judiasm.
Often appears with Ecclesia (Personification of church):
both appear as female figures, Ecclesia crowned and holding a chalice
and Synagogo with tablets of law and blindfolded
T
tabernacle: An ornamental structure, usually done in stone, which
contains the
Sacrament
tierceron: A major rib in a complex rib
vault Tiercerons spring from the
main springers.
Other types of
ribs: diagonal, lierne, ridge, transverse
See also rib vault,
springer
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
transverse arch: The arch which runs
across the vault to separate the
bays. It usually stands out from the
surface of the vault
Compare with transverse rib
transverse barrel vault: A vault in which each bay consists of a barrel
or tunnel which is set at
right angles to the main longitudinal
direction of the nave. .(4B, 5B)
transverse barrel vault: A barrel (or
tunnel) vault whose component
sections are set at right angles to the
main longitudinal direction of
the nave.(5B)
Other types of
barrel vault: longitudinal
See also: barrel vault, groin vault
transverse rib: The projecting bands which mark the transverse arches of
a rib vault
trefoil:
An ornamental form which has
three lobes or foils.
trumeau: Vertical architectural member between the leaves
of a doorway.
Trumenus were often highly decorated.
See also : trumeau
figure
trumeau figure: Statue decorating a trumeau Usually this was a
human
figure, usually a religious personage. .
See also : jamb figures,
trumeau
tympanum (plural, tympana): The basically semicircular
area enclosed
by the arch above the
lintel of an arched entranceway.
This area is often decorated with
sculpture in the Romanesque and Gothic
periods.
V
voussoir: One of the wedge-shaped stones used in
constructing and arch
W
west end: The area of the church
opposite the east end. The west end
usually functions as the
main
entrance to the church. When one enters a church from the west
end, the
left side is the north
side, and the right is the south side.
Contrast with east end
See also screen facade, westwork, narthex
westwork (from German Westwerk): An entrance area at the west end of
a
church with upper chamber and usually with a tower or towers. It is
normally broader than the width of the nave and aisles. Westwork is
sometimes used synonymously with narthex
Compare with narthex,
screen facade
See also west end, facade
D
E
See also column