Visual History Midterm: Chapters 1-6

Frieze

middle, horizontal, decorative band of the entablature

Cornice

projecting molding on building (usually above columns or pillars)

Klismos

light, armless chair with outward curved front, rear legs, and an inwardly curved backrest

Diphros

Greek three-four-legged stool, usually legs of an animal

Trapezai

small, portable 3-legged dining table. Legs usually shaped like animal legs

Kline

upholstered wooden couch, used for all purposes, primary article of furniture

Caryatids

a female figure that functions as a supporting column to an entablature

Deus exmachina

crane-like machine allowing "gods" to ascend or descend to/from the stage

Stylobate

a stepped platform supporting Doric temples

Chlamys

short, light rectangular cloak that was pinned at the right shoulder or below the throat. worn by young men, soldiers, and women

Doric Chiton

Simple, made of wool. Went to the knees on young men and to the ankle for others, floor length for women. Fastened at one shoulder, sometimes two. Belted at the waist.

Greaves

decorated leather/metal shin armor

Peplos

rectangular cloth with the top folded around the torso. pinned on the shoulders and open on one side. worn ankle length but shorter for young men/soldiers

Ionic Chiton

Sleeved style of chiton, longer, fuller, fastened with many small brooches at shoulder, intricately draped.

Spartan Helmet

Enclosed helmet with high center crest

Chiton

Worn alone or under a peplos. Loose, tunic-like, closed up to the arms, pinned at shoulders and belted at waist or under the breasts.

Greek Cuirass

Military breastplate and backplate, woven or metal, connected by leather or fabric strips

Himation

long, unisex, rectangular cloak. could cover head and be slept in

Cothurnus

Thick-soled elevator shoes worn by actors in a Greek drama playing gods or royalty.

Hoplite

Greek foot soldier. Responsible for his own items

Fibulae

A decorative pin, usually used to fasten garments.

Oikos

family unit headed by a patriarch OR the patriarch's greeting room

Atrium

ceremonial center of a home. pool of water, surrounded by peristyle columns

Agora

a public open space used for assemblies and markets

Field

wide, middle zone of an interior wall

Crown

upper decorative zone of an interior wall

Base

molded cushion at the bottom of Ionic and Corinthian shafts

Acropolis

elevated Athens promontory with Parthenons, attendant buildings, and a theater

Thronos

Large, solid thrones for royalty or gods in theater. Often made of stone

Dado

lower decorative zone of an interior wall

Metopes

Second kind of decorative panel on Doric entablatures. Sometimes painted on

Triglyphs

Horizontal repeating alternating decorative Doric entablatures

Fluting

Decorative vertical grooves carved in a column

Dentils

a band-like decoration with blocky, regularly shaped forms. Ionic or Corinthian

Entablature

horizontal beam carried by post and divided into cornice, frieze, and architrave

Post and Lintel

construction system with evenly spaced posts capped by a lintel that held a roof

Corinthian Order

Most ornate of the orders- contains a base, a fluted column shaft, and the capital is elaborate and decorated with leaf carvings and bellshaped. Spiral volutes.

Pediment

A low triangle at roof ends above the cornice. Often filled with sculptures

Ionic Order

Elegant details, long proportions, capital with volutes and spirals, continuous frieze, tooth-like cornice.

Doric Order

Sturdy proportions, cushion capital, alternating triglyphs (3 vertical grooves), metopes (low relief panels)

Order

Style of details to standardize column and entablature system

Entasis

The narrowing, curved tapering of the top 2/3 of a classical column

Shaft

The post of a column. Swelling called entasis, often had fluting

Capital

the decorative cushion at the top of a column

Architrave

lower, molded portion of the entablature

Peristyle

a row of identical columns supporting an entablature, surrounding a temple or atrium

Roman Cuirass

2 metal/leather panels connected by straps as chest and back armor. often worn with a fringed skirt and decorated

Palla

like the himation, draped shawl like a toga, sometimes worn like a veil as women expected to cover heads outside

Stola

worn by free married women outdoors, like a modern slip dress, distinct folds and full material, bright colors

Femoralia

half length trousers worn under a toga or with other clothing or under military clothing

subligar / subligeria / lieinium

loincloth knotted at waist, unisex, only worn as outer garment by workmen and athletes

Toga Praetexta

imperial toga for the sons of nobility, magistrates, or high priests. 2"-3" purple border

Toga

only for male Roman citizens. semi circular cloth, 8-9' diameter, draped around body and held in place with the left hand. became more cumbersome over time. wearable over the head. sometimes worn by female sex workers

Tunica

unisex tunic. two pieces of cloth with sleeves, belted. usually decorated and worn under toga

Toga Pura

worn after age sixteen, made of plain white wool

Toga Candida

worn by candidates for office, bleached white

Toga Palla

black or dark colored, worn for mourning

Toga Picta

purple with gold embroidery, only for emperor or victorious generals

Tunica Talaris

long, long sleeved tunica for old men and dignitaries

Clavi

purple decorative bands

Pallium

rectangle draped around the shoulders, worn by male philosophers and teachers

Paludamentum

large square of purple or white fine wool, cloak for emperor or general

Strophium

breast band

Bridal Costume

saffron palla and shoes, a veil with orange blossoms, flammeum (bright orange veil), myrtle and orange blossom crown

Solae / Sandalis

unisex sandals

Soccus

ankle length boots

Men's Hair

short, styled by a barber. curls came in and out of fashion. beards popular during Republic, clean shaven popular during Empirical

Women's Hair

Republic - gentle wave, Empire - complicated curls and braids. Blonde was in fashion through lemon bleach or white captive's hairs. Lead to lighten face, red lip tint, darkened eyebrows

Bulla

necklace for freeborn male Roman children, like a medallion

Concrete

allowed for larger scale buildings. favorite, most common building material, invented in 2 BCE, made of lime, mortar, aggregate, water, and volcanic dust

Tuscan Order

simplified Doric, no fluting

Composite Order

Corinthian and Ionic combined, fancier.

Arches

half circular supports between columns that allowed supports to be more spread out

Keystone

the central section of an arch, at the very top

Voussoir

tapered wedge-shaped stone used to construct an arch

Pier

rectangular column supporting an arch or dome

Vault

parallel arches forming a roof

Barrel Vault

a series of unbroken arches forming a tunnel

Groin / Cross Vault

vault formed at the point at which two barrel vaults intersect at right angles.

Dome

hemispherical structure that needs heavy supports

Aqueduct

raised channels that carry fresh water to cities, used gravity

Forum

rectangular plaza containing government and commercial buildings, sometimes temples

Ampitheater

round open air public arena, surrounded by seating

Circus

long raceway surrounded by seats

Basilica

a large rectangular public building with an apse at one end. used for public business or law

Apse

rounded semicircular dome

Valerium

retractable fabric awning to shield amphitheater

Arcade

a series of side by side arches supported by columns

Superposed Orders

successive stories of buildings in different orders

Thermae

public bathhouses, cold warm and hot baths. had shops, restaurants, libraries

Scena Frons

permanently decorated rear stage wall, columns and statues, built of wood and stone. three rear entry arches and two side entry arches

Vomitory

tunnels used by the audience to enter

Insula

apartment buildings up to six stories tall with rooms facing the inner courtyard. also a term used to refer to a city block

Stemma

women's heavily jeweled crown. for byzantine empresses, but also a male version

Maniakis

flat, wide, decorated collars worn by Byzantine empresses

Tablion

oblong/square panel of Byzantine emperor and attendants' chlamys. showed rank and was usually worn in contrasting fabric, open edge over chest

Dalmatica

long, fitted, unisex tunic. t-shaped garment with two side slits to the armscythe. worn over fitted undertunic. now worn by clergy

Cote / Surcote / Surcoat

long, sleeved tunic that could be tight or loose. rounded neck with a hem at the foot. vertical decorative band for the wealthy. originally byzantine, then early xtian clergy

Early Christian/Byzantine Costume Styles

retained the tunic and cloak, wrapped over trousers or palla

Textiles

wool or linen, imported silk in 650 ce and started western monopoly