Architecture and Society Lecture 1- Study guide

Abacus

The separating element between the capital and architrave

Acanthus leaves

The leaves at the capital of Corinthian columns.

Acanthus Motif

Achaemenid (Persian) Empire (dynasty)

Was at its largest whilst under Darius the Great's rule (522-486 BCE). Ended by Alexander the Great in 330 BCE

Achaemenid (Persian) Empire (dynasty) Date

550-330 BCE

Acropolis

The upper town or elevated stronghold of an ancient Greek city, containing its Chief Temples

Agora

The open meeting space or marketplace in an ancient Greek city.

Akhenaten

The ruler that came after Hatshepsut, and made everyone believe in Monotheism. Ruled for a short period of time (1351-1334 BCE).

Ambulatories

Curved passageways that go around a shrine

Amphitheatre

a round, semicircular, or oval outdoor arena surrounded by rising tiers of seats

Anda

The dome-like top section of a stupa

Apadana

Apadana Date

ca. 500 BCE

Apadana Location

Persepolis, Iran

Apotropaic

(shedus - masculine | lamassus - feminine) A sculpted guardian figure placed at portals and thresholds

Arcade

A series of arches or columns or piers, either freestanding or attached to a wall

Arch

A curved structure, usually made of wedge-shaped stones, that spans an opening

Archaic Architecture

The lesser forms of early architecture due to the lack of artistic development

Architrave

a main beam resting across the tops of columns

Arch of Titus

A triumphal arch, built by Emperor Domitian to honor his older brother Titus.

Arch of Titus

Arch of Titus Date

ca. 81 CE

Arch of Titus Location

Rome, Italy

Ark of the Covenant

An ornate box that held the 10 Commandments

Ashoka

The largest ruler of the Mauryan Empire, who converted to Buddhism, after the horrendous Battle of Kalinga.

Astragal

Composed of a half-round surface surrounded by two flat planes. It can be used at the top or base of a column.

Aten

The sun

Atrium

A large, open space

Attic

The story above the main cornice in a classical facade

Axis and Axial Planning

A design layout where a central point or line serves as the organizing principle for the entire structure.

Barrel

Basilica

An ancient Roman meeting hall, oblong in plan, with a high central space lit by clerestory windows

Bronze Age

A prehistoric period that followed the Stone Age and preceded the Iron Age, when certain weapons and tools were created from a certain material that made stone obsolete.

Bronze Age Date

ca. 3200-1500 BCE

Buddhism

Based on teachings attributed to the Buddha; a wandering teacher, this religion believed in nonviolence.

Caitya Hall

Carved out areas, which had ambulatories and other stone structures. These acted as stupas, except they were located within a hill or cliffside

Caldarium

A room in a Roman bath house with a hot plunge bath

Capital

The top section of a column

Caryatid

A draped female figure used as pillar

Chattra

A symbolic mantle piece, that was placed on the top of a stupa. It symbolized the important people (Buddhists) who had their remains buried underneath

Classical Greek

Established around 5th century and considered a sophisticated form of architecture

Colonnade

A row of columns supporting a beam or entablature

Concrete

Artificial stone (widely used by the Romans) made of a mixture of cement, water, gravel, and sand

Corbel (arch, vault)

A doorway created from stacked stones with smoother edges

Corinthian Order

Corinthian Order Definition

The frieze on the capital of the column is fully round and plant-like. Designed from the Acanthus plant

Cornice

The horizontal molding that acts as the top section of an entablature

Cubiculum

Small side rooms within a domus

Cycladic Islands

Marble is very common here, Approximately, 90 cities have been discovered here as well.

Cycladic Islands Location

Aegean Sea

"Cyclopean" masonry

Large scale stone construction, often used for defense. Incorporated small doorways to slow down intruders.

Dental

Low hanging rectangular ornaments that sat between the triglyphs

Djoser's Tomb

image

Djoser's Tomb (Funerary Complex) & Stepped Pyramid Date

ca. 2650 BCE

Djoser's Tomb (Funerary Complex) & Stepped Pyramid Location

Saqqâra, Egypt

Djoser's Tomb & Stepped Pyramid

An enclosed separated space with only one entrance (mortuary precinct). And has multiple tombs ontop of each other.

Djoser's Tomb & Stepped Pyramid Materials

Outer Walls - White Limestone

Dome

Doric Order

A coloumn

Doric Order Definition

The most masculine of the orders, the columns have minimal flourishes, no base. Most simplistic

Dromos

Greek for "passageway"

Echinus

The semicircular segment that sat below the abacus

Engaged Columns

Columns that are embedded in a wall and partly projects from the surface of the wall

Entablature

An upper section of a Greek temple that included a frieze, metope, and triglyph

Entasis

The slight convex bulge given to a column to offset the optical illusion that it is thinner in the middle

Entemenanki Tower

A Ziggurat, which was the most iconic during its time. It honors the god Maraduk

Erechtheion

Erechtheion Date

ca. 420 BCE

Erechtheion Location

Acropolis, Athens, Greece

Etruscans

(ca 900 BCE - 1st century BCE) Predecessors of the Romans. Most of their history is barely understood.

Etruscan Temple

Fauces

Narrow passageways

Fillet

Rectangular bands that separate moldings and ornaments

First Temple

Established by King David and later taken over by his son Solomon. Built to house the Ark of the Covenant. One chamber for the Ark, another for the high priestess.

First Temple

First Temple Date

ca. 961 BCE / MkI destroyed in 586 BCE / MkII destroyed in 70 BCE

First Temple Location

Jerusalem, Israel/Palestine

First Temple Materials

Mainly cedar wood and gold

Flavian Amphitheatre (Colosseum)

Constructed from concrete. Home of gladiatorial games, and later a church. Storage can be found below the main arena. Estimated to have been able to hold 50,000 spectators. Organized by social class (the upper class were in the lower sections, the lower class were towards the top). The exterior facade incorporates Greek and Roman architecture.

Flavian Amphitheatre (Colosseum)

Flavian Amphitheatre (Colosseum) Date

ca. 70 CE

Flavian Amphitheatre (Colosseum) Location

Rome, Italy

Fluted Shaft

The vertical grooves/cuts that ran up the main section of a column

Fluting

The indentations found in columns

Fresco

This is applied (in wet form) before paint to prevent chipping

Frieze

a broad horizontal band of sculpted or painted decoration, especially on a wall near the ceiling. (or on the sides of stairs at Apadana)

Frigidarium

A room in a Roman bath house with a small pool (sometimes a large pool) of cold water

Great Altar (of ____)

(Zeus) - Hellenistic detailing. The enormous frieze, which spans a large portion of the altar, describes the battle between the Olympian Gods and the Giants.

Great Altar (of Zeus)

Great Altar of Zeus Date

ca. 250 BCE

Great Altar of Zeus Location

Pergamon, Turkey

Great Bath

Great Pyramid of Khufu

Great Pyramid of Khufu Date

ca. 2570 BCE

Great Pyramids

Great Pyramids Date

ca. 2551-2472 BCE

Great Pyramids & Great Pyramid of Khufu Location

Giza, Egypt

Great Stupa

Meaning "piled up", it is the largest Buddhist worship site. It is a solid mass. And it is slightly shifted in a clockwise direction (with four entrances)

Great Stupa

Great Stupa Date

Began in the middle of 3rd century BCE