Quiz 3: History of Architecture Vocabulary

Abbey

A CHRISTIAN MONASTERY or convent and its church.

Aisle

A LATERAL DIVISION OF A CHRISTIAN CHURCH or an ancient Roman basilica parallel to the central nave and separated from it by colonnades.

Ambulatory

A PROCESSIONAL PASSAGEWAY AROUND A SHRINE or flanking the apse of a Christian church.

Bastide

A NEW TOWN IN SOUTHWEST FRANCE, preplanned and often laid out as an orthogonal grid.

Coffer

A SQUARE OR POLYGONAL DECORATIVE PANEL embossed into a ceiling or an arch.

Cathedral

A BISHOP'S CHURCH, usually the principal church in a city. The word derives from cathedra, the bishop's throne.

Chapel

A SMALL AREA WITHIN A CHRISTIAN CHURCH CONTAINING AN ALTAR and used for private prayer. A room or building within a larger complex used for religious ceremonies.

Campanile

A BELL TOWER, usually freestanding.

Crossing

THE INTERSECTION OF THE NAVE and the transept in a Christian church.

Cloister

A MONASTERY COURTYARD, usually planted, enclosed by a covered ambulatory.

Choir

THE PART OF A CHURCH WHERE THE CHOIR SITS, either incorporated with the chancel or directly in front of it.

Crypt

A ROOM OR STORY BENEATH THE MAIN FLOOR OF A CHURCH, sometimes underground, containing graces, relics, or chapels.

Gargoyle

A GROTESQUE FIGURE SCULPTED onto the downspouts of Gothic cathedrals.

Gallery

AN UPPER STORY OPEN ON ONE SIDE, EITHER TO AN INTERIOR OR EXTERIOR SPACE.

Faubourg

A SUBURB OF A MEDIEVAL FRENCH CITY, outside the city's walls.

Interlacing Arches

Flying Buttress

AN ARCH OR HALF-ARCH THAT TRANSFERS THE THRUST OF A VAULT or roof from an upper part of a wall to an external pylon.

Nave

AN ANCIENT ROMAN BASILICA OR A CHRISTIAN CHURCH, the taller central space lit by clerestories and flanked by AISLES.

Narthex

THE TRANSVERSE VESTIBULE of an early Christian church.

Transept

THE TRANSVERSE ARMS of a cross-shaped church, crossing the main axis at a right angle.

Ribbed Vault

in Gothic cathedrals, the ARTICULATION OF GROIN VAULTS.

Tracery

A PATTERN OF CURVILINEAR, perforated ornament within the upper part of a medieval window or screen.

Monastery

THE ENCLOSURE OF A RELIGIOUS ORDER living apart from society.

Minaret

A TALL, SLENDER TOWER AT A MOSQUE, from which the faithful are called to prayer by the crier, or muezzin.

Mosque

THE PRAYER HALL OF ISLAM.

Mandala

A MAGIC DIAGRAM OF THE COSMOS made from overlaid geometric patterns, used throughout India as the basis for the plan of monumental religious structures.

Keep

THE TOWER STRONGHOLD OF A MEDIEVAL CASTLE, used as a residence in times of siege.

Portal

A MONUMENTAL ENTRANCEWAY TO A BUILDING or courtyard.

Piazza

AN ITALIAN PUBLIC SQUARE

Viaduct

AN AERIAL ROADWAY OR WATERWAY carried on a series of arches.