ARCH210 UIUC MIDTERM 2026

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total context of architecture

physical presence, broader physical frame, all past buldings are worth studying, non-physical aspects

Vitruvian Triad

firmtitas (structure), utilitas (utility/function), venustas (beauty)

architecture as shelter

a roofed space in which to protect, live, work etc.

architecture as boundary

creates "circumscription" marking outline space

architecture as a monument

creates an "accent" erecting a structure that is used mass and height to create a focus in an open space

post and lintel

vertical supports with horizontal beams

cantilever

overhanging beam supported only at one end (helps tensile strength)

corbelled arch

stacked cantilevers that progressively step inward as they rise, until they join with a capstone at its apex

true arch

individual tapered stones (voussoirs) arranged radically pushing against the next compression (strongest of all the forms of structure)

menhir

A large upright standing stone (free standing), French term

megalith

very large stones, free standing or in construction, term with Greek roots

tension (in simple forms of structure)

horizontal stress

compression (in simple forms of structure)

vertical stress

dolmen

a prehistoric structure made up of two or more large upright stones (megaliths) supporting a large, flat, horizontal slab(s)

cairn

a pile of stones or earth that served both as a prehistoric burial enclosure and a marker of underground tombs, often built around dolmen at one side

passage grave

a burial site consisting of a post-and-lintel constructed passage (using megaliths) that tunnels through a cairn, with a dolmen-like structure at the center as a burial chamber

henge

a prehistoric earthwork consisting of a circular or oval bank with an inner ditch

post and lintel construction

a horizontal beam (the lintel) supported by two uprights (posts) at either end, used in Stoneage, stones shaped to fit together

trilithons

two posts and a lintel as a unit, used in Stonehenge

corbeled arch/vault

made up of inwardly projecting courses of stone

aubrey holes

the fifty-six evenly spaced holes found inside the inner ring of Stonehenge that may have marked lunar eclipses

the avenue

the marked path that leads out into the landscape of Stonehenge, goes to the River of Avon, "connects" Domain of the Ancestors to Domain of the Living

Bluestone

from Wales, added in the second phase for Stonehenge

pictograms

simple pictures representing objects or actions, Cut into wet clay tablets, first to keep accounting accounting by

merchants for goods traded at

Uruk

cuneiform

"wedge-shaped"; Sumerian phonographic alphabet (representations of syllable sounds) , the first writing system, here fully developed

mnemonics

a repertoire of signs that can be used to carry quite complex messages

Stele of Hammurabi (the Law Code of Hammurabi)

set of laws/code the community followed, system of governing/organized society, Hammurabi stated he was working under a God that gave him the "power" to write laws

ziggurat

a built, raised platform with four sloping sides made of mud bricks wit a stone cladding, NOT the temple, conceived as a holy mountain that brought Sumerian priests closer to the gods, a white-washed temple was typically sited atop it

polytheistic

belief in many gods

pantheon

the collective term for multiple gods

venerated by a particular culture or group

theocracy

a type of government where a god is recognized as the ruler, and the state officials operate on the god's behalf

temenos

sacred enclosure, typically raised on an artificial mound or platform

Nile River

along Lower (north) and Upper (south) Egypt, liquid spine

orthogonal

using straight lines set at right angles

mastaba

translated to "bench", superstructure of an Egyptian tomb, massive brick

or stone rectangular tumulus or platform with inwardly sloping walls, typically covered a lengthy shaft leading to a burial vault below

serdab

sealed (tomb) chamber, containing a Ka statue of the deceased,

ka

"spiritual double"; an aspect of the soul that resides in the tomb

after death; life-force of the universe that accompanies the body and that

pursued the functions of life in the afterworld

ba

a unique personality/force that resided solely in the mummified body

stela

a vertical stone carved with an inscription or images marking space, (plural: stelae)

hierarchic scale

on Early Dynastic Egyptian slates, the larger the figure showed importance within the scene

ashlar masonry

blocks of equally measured, well-cut, smooth stone, laid in even courses

hypostyle hall

space supported and divided by rows of equally spaced columns

pyramid

four-sided, triangular prism

apotropaic

serving a protective function, the Sphinx stands as a guardian of the pharaoh's tomb and the broader landscape

obelisk

a tall, usually monolithic, monument with a needle-like form (pyramidal point), carved with hieroglyphs to celebrate the ruler who erected it, placed near a sun temple in their original locations, are associated with the powerful sun god (Ra)

canon

application of regular proportions and sets of relationships between parts to derive an idealized form, seen in both Greek and Egypt, had measurments of ideals based on a conon of proportions, strictly observed system of (bodily) proportions

hypostyle

"many columned", architectural plan with rows of columns at regular intervals

lamassu (shedu)

human-headed, winged bull figure that guarded entryways, is a type of genii

genii

a good spirit (usually winged) that warded off evil and evil spirits. They are apotropaic (meaning protective)

apadana

a large hypostyle hall, can be used as an audience hall/throne room/etc

fresco

wall painting mixing pigment into wet plaster and sealing it

colonnade

a row of columns, supports a beam/lintel or entablature

cyclopean masonry

construction technique using very large, irregularly shaped stones (as if made by giants)

shaft grave

a deep, narrow pit, often cut into natural rock, used for burial

relieving arch

above a lintel that lessens the weight of the masonry above a doorway or other susceptible feature

megaron

from the Greek "Large room"; square/rectangular room with circular, central hearth and four columns, used for administrative and ritual purposes; accessed through a porch with two columns at entry

tholos tomb

a round burial structure of stone, cut into a hillside, with a corbelled, 'false dome' roof; sometimes called a 'beehive tomb'

dromos

the stone lined passage leading up to the tholos chamber

classicalism

Ancient Greek or Roman (and other cultural) architectural forms and features, or the revivals of such in later periods

polis

Greek city-states

othogonal planning

urban design based on rectilinear forms, usually with perpendicular intersections (including gridplans, Hippodamian planning, per stringas, etc.)

per strigas

means "by bands", a gridding systemof land division using a small number of east-west avenues to divide a site into longbands, which were then subdivided usingnarrow north-south streets

"Hippodamian" Planning"

Urbandevelopment schema using orthogonals devised by Hippodamus of Miletus (fifthcentury BCE). Such planning formallyemployed a grid, but also social theory,in which society was divided intoreligious, public and private zones. Rigorous geometry deployed: Overallgrid of squares, which were quarteredand then further divided into six parts,leaving blocks of 30 x 30m used for sixcourtyard houses.

agora

in Ancient Geece, a public and open gathering space used for assembilies and participatory government, one of several key public/religious building types of almost all Greek cities, also site of the bouleterion, courts, stoas and temples

bouleterion

the main communal governmental building

stoas

weather-protected meeting spaces, covered walkway or colonade that was ususally designed for public use, used as a framing device for the agora's open public space

Doryphoros

"spear-bearer", Imperial Roman, marble copy found at Herculaneum Italy, this copies a bronze original, designed by Polukykleitos in Greece in the 5th century BCE, head is 1/7 of the bofy (statue is 7 heads tall)

polychromy

the use of multiple colors in architecture and art, classical Greek buildings and their sculpted ornaments were usually painted in bright colors which now has been faded

Greek classical orders

combo of column type and entablature

parts of column

base, shaft, capital

doric order

the simplest and least decorated, plain capital, fluted shaft, no base, entablature is ornamented with alternating triglyphs

ionic order

columns have a basem slender shafts (fluted or smooth), capitals are decorated with volutes

volutes

scrolls on sides of ionic capitals

triglyphs

panels with three vertical grooves and metopes

metopes

square panels often decorated with figural sculptures

entablature

made up of the architrave, frieze, and cornice

corinthian order

has a slender base, slender shafts (fluted or smooth), and capitals decorated with acanthus leaves

pediment

the triangular top of a temple that contains sculpture

cella/naos

main space of Greek temples

pronaos

semi-open porch of Greek temples

peristyle

a colonnade surrounding a building or enclosing a courtyard

stylobate

the uppermost of the platform of a Greek temple, which supports the columns

sterobate

the lower part of the platform of a Greek temple, which supports the columns

Greek Optical "refinements"

Very slight curvatures/distortions used to make Greek temples appear more harmonious in appearance overall

entasis

a slight convex curve in to correct the visual illusion of concavity produced by a straight structure

peripteral

having a screen of freestanding columns/colonade at all sides, describes a peristyle temple

acroplolis

the highest point in any Greek city

votive

a ritual gift/offering of thanks

propylaia

gatehouse that covers entryway

Athena Promachos

massive statue of Athena

Partheonon

large temple dedicated to Athena, only high status (priests/priestesses) allowed inside

main alter at Parthenon

large alter at end of open field, held religious ceremonies (shared votives for Athena)

Erechtheion

an ancient Greek temple on the north side of The Acropolis of Athens in Greece

Acroplis is a site of collective memory

1. Athens is the site of Athena's birth

2. Athena and Poseidon competition for who would be the patron deity/god (the people chose Athena)

3. votives were given to thank Athena in her help during the Persian Wars

depictions on the Parthenon

1. East pediment of Parthenon depicts birth of Athena

2. West pediment of Parthenon depicts contest bet Athena and Poseidon

inner frieze of Parthenon

is unusual (as there is normally only one on structures), makes the Parthenon uniquem it shows the Panathenaic procession

peplos

a garment worn by Athena that was woven by prominent women in the city

Panathenaia

the city's yearly religious festival, celebrating Athena as patron of the polis, all (free men) participated

Panathenaic games

athletice and cultural competition held every Ffour years as part of Greater Panathenaia

Panathenais Amphoras

chariot team and runners (modern-day olympics)