APAH Key Words-Chapter 8

Late Antiquity-Early Christian

Aisles

parallel to the nave in a basilica and separated by a colonnade or an arcade

Ambulatory

the circular or semicircular passage around the nave

Apse

semi-circular niche terminating at one or both ends of the nave, usually the east end

Baptistery

a building or part of a building in which baptism is administered

Basilica

baths and public places were taken over as Christian churches after the Edict of Milan. The entrance was now placed on the west opposite the altar instead of the long side. These structures had a nave, apse, side aisles and sometimes a narthex and an ambulatory

Catacombs

vast subterranean networks of galleries and passageways designed as cemeteries for Christian dead until the Edict of Milan passed by Constantine

Central Plan Church

a church having a central plan with the altar in the middle

Codex/Codices

separate pages of vellum or parchment bound together at one side; the predecessor of the modern book

Cruciform

cross shaped

Diptychs

a pair of paintings or carvings hinged together

Established Church

one which is financially supported by state

Illumination

decorations with drawings on handwritten works

Longitudinal/Basilican plan

a church with a long nave whose focus is the apse

Lunettes

semicircular frames

Manuscript

(Latin for handwritten) a document, scroll or book done by hand

Monotheism

the belief in one god

Narthex

a vestibule to the main church

Nave

the main body of the church

Nimbus

halo appearing around the head of a holy person to symbolize divinity

Parchment

lambskin prepared for painting

Polytheism

the belief in many gods

Prefiguration

a prophetic forerunner

Scroll

old form of rolled format which was replaced by a codex new form like a book

Transept

cross arms of a basilica at right angles to the nave and aisles

Vellum

a calfskin surface for painting