Studied by 21 people
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Abbey church
church located in a monastery under the authority of an abbot (high ranking monk)
Abstract
deviating from naturalism
Acanthus
a leaf used as a decoration for Corinthian column capitals
Adoration of the Magi
Nativity scene where three Kings visit the infant Jesus
Agora
a public open space in ancient Greece for assemblies and markets
Annunciation
announcement to Mary by the angel Gabriel that she would conceive the son of God
Appropriate
to take something for one's own use
Apse
a rounded end of a building, often in a basilica
Aqueduct
an artificial channel for conveying water
arabesque
ornamental design with intertwined flowing lines of Arabic or Moorish origin
Arcade
A series of arches
Atmospheric perspective
showing using hue: warm colors approach; cool colors recede
Atrium
open-roofed entrance hall or central court
Axial plan
design where parts of a building are organized longitudinally, or along a given axis
Barrel vault
a continuous surface of semicircular sections resembling a barrel or tunnel
Bas relief
sculpture with a slight projection from the surrounding surface
Basilica
building with a central nave, side aisle(s), and a semicircular apse
BCE/CE
Before the Common Era/ Common Era
Caliph
chief Muslim civil and religious ruler regarded as the successor of Muhammad
Caligraphy
decorative handwriting
Canon of proportions
A rule for size relationships, often for the human figure and architecture
Capital
the topmost member of a column
Cardinal points
each of the four main points of the compass (north, south, east, and west).
Caryatid
a stone carving of a draped female figure used as a pillar
Catacomb
an underground cemetery
Cathedral
church building where a Christian bishop has his official seat; cathedra is Latin for chair
Cella
the inner area of a temple housing the cult image of a god
Central plan
circle, octagon, square, or Greek cross shape. Often for a baptistery or martyrium
Chi-Rho
a monogram of chi (Χ) and rho (Ρ) as the first two letters of Greek Christos (Christ)
Circa
approximate date
Citadel
a fortress
Classical
relating to the ancient Greek and Roman world
Clerestory
the upper part of a wall containing windows
Codex
pages held together by stitching, the earliest form of book
Coffer
a series of sunken panels in a ceiling
Colonnade
a row of columns
Commission
to authorize the production of a work of art
Composite order
Roman order that combines characteristics of Ionic order and the Corinthian order
Composition
arrangement of visual elements in a work of art
Conceptual
relating to, or based on ideas
Concrete
pourable building material made from gravel, sand, cement, and water
Continuous narrative
A story where multiple scenes are portrayed in a single frame without any dividers
Contrapposto
a standing human figure whose weight is unequally distributed between the two legs
Convention
style or method that is traditional and widely recognized to a culture or period
Corbel
architectural member that projects from a wall and supports weight
Crucifixion
death of Jesus on the cross
Deposition
removal of Jesus from the cross
Diminution
reduction in the size of an object to show depth
Dynasty
a succession of people from the same family
Empire
an extensive group of countries under a single supreme authority
Encaustic
heated beeswax mixed with colored pigment
Engaged column
a column embedded in a wall
Entablature
The horizontal upper section of a classical building that rests on the columns
Entasis
a slight swelling in the shaft of a column
Ephemeral
lasting for a short time
Ethnocentric
evaluating other cultures according to the standards of one's own culture
Eucharist
ceremony commemorating Last Supper where bread & wine is consecrated and consumed
Façade
the face of a building
Figurative
representation based on the observation of a real object
Foreshortening
dramatically shortening an object to emphasize depth or perspective
Formal
purely visual aspects of art
Forum
the public square of an ancient Roman city
four-iwan mosque
mosque arranged around an open courtyard with a vaulted hall (iwan) on each side
Fresco
painting in watercolor on wet plaster on a wall or ceiling
Genre scene
scenes or events from everyday life
Greek cross
a cross with equal length arms
Groin vault
the intersection at right angles of two barrel vaults.
Hajj
Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca (1 of 5 pillars) that takes place in the last month of the year
Halo
circle of light shown above the head of a saint or holy person
Hellenistic
The spreading of Greek culture from the death of Alexander the Great to 31 BCE
Hieratic
showing importance through size
Homage
a conscious display of respect for another artist
Hue
name of a color
Hypostyle hall
many columns carrying the roof or ceiling
hypostyle mosque
1. Islamic sacred space with a roof supported by many columns
Icon
symbolic representation of a sacred Christian person
Iconoclast
destroyer of religious images
Iconography
study of subject matter and symbols
Iconophile
one who supports the veneration of religious images and icons
Idealistic
portrayal that is completely free from faults or defects
In situ
in its original place.
Innovation
introduction of new ideas or methods
Intuitive perspective
showing depth by approximating how objects growing smaller in the distance
Ka
Ancient Egyptian spiritual part of a person that survives after death (soul)
Kaaba
square stone building in center of the Great Mosque at Mecca, holiest shrine to Muslims
Keystone
wedge-shaped stone at the top of an arch holding the other pieces in place
Kufic
an early angular form of the Arabic alphabet found chiefly in decorative inscriptions
Lamentation
expression of grief over the dead body of Jesus
Last supper
final meal that Jesus shared with his Apostles in Jerusalem before his crucifixion
Linear perspective
creating the illusion of depth using converging diagonal lines called orthoganals
Loculi
recess in a catacomb or tomb where bodies were placed
Lost-wax process
metal casting where molten metal is poured into a mold created from a wax model
Lunette
shape of a crescent or half-moon
Madrasa
A school for Islamic instruction
Mandorla
almond-shaped halo surrounding the entire figure
Martyr
person killed because of their beliefs
Mastaba
Egyptian rectangular tomb with sloping sides, a flat roof, and an underground burial chamber
Mausoleum
a building that contains a tomb
Mecca
birthplace of Muhammad in 570 AD
Media
materials used to make art
Note 
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