Ancient Greek Architecture and Sculpture Key Terms

Acedemy

Athenian school of philosophy established by Plato

Acropolis

central hill of an ancient Greek city, often the site of temples. It sometimes is used to specifically mean the one in Athens

Acroteria

decorative ornaments placed at the apex and corners of pediment

Agora

central public space in a Greek city for assemblies and markets

Architrave

lowest part of a classical entablature

Black-figured

Greek vase painting in which design is applied with a slip that turns black and the background is the natural color of the clay

Capital

the uppermost member of a column or pillar

Caryatid column

columns carved in the shape of women

Cella

central chamber of a temple where the cult statue of the temple's god is housed

Contrapposto

disposition of parts of statue body so that the weight-bearing leg is distinguished from the free leg, used to show movement

Entablature

entire structure above the columns

Entasis

a slight convex curve in the shaft of a column, introduced to correct the visual illusion of concavity produced by a straight shaft.

Faience

finely glazed ceramic beads, figures and other small objects

Frieze

1) continuous band of painted or sculpture decoration 2) Classical Architecture: part of entablature between the architrave and cornice

Kouros/Kore

stylized Greek statues from the Archaic period of young men or women

Lycaeum

Athenian school of philosophy established by Aristotle

Metope

panels of relief sculpture between the triglyphs on the frieze of Doric style temples

Pan-Hellenic Games

religious festivals dedicated to the gods, such as the Olympic Games, which featured athletic competitions in which any free-born, Greek male could compete

Pediment

low triangular gable that forms part of the entablature

Peristyle

colonnade around a building or open court

Red-figured

Greek vase painting in which design is outlined in black and the figures are reddish after baking

Stereobate

solid mass of masonry as a foundation

Stylobate

continuous base supporting a row of columns

Triglyph

panel with 3 vertical grooves that are between the metopes on the frieze of Doric style temples and are meant to represent the original wooden beams

Volute

spiral scroll-like ornament that forms the basis of the Ionic order, found in the capital of the Ionic column.