EARLY CHRISTIAN AND BYZANTINE (VOCAB SET #1)

TERMS FOR EARLY CHRISTIAN AND BYZANTINE ARCHITECTURE

Tetrarchy

Rule by four; the system instituted by Emperor Diocletian in 293 to govern the ancient Roman Empire by dividing it between two emperors, the augusti, and their designated successors, the caesares.

Bay

A regularly repeated spatial unit of a building or wall, defined by vaults, windows, orders, or other prominent vertical features.

Hypocaust

An ancient Roman central heating system using hot air ducts in the floors of the building.

Spolia

Recycled fragments from other monuments.

Catacomb

An underground system of passages used as a cemetery.

Loculus (pl. loculi)

An architectural compartment or niche that houses a body in a place of entombment.

Cubiculum (pl. cubicula)

A private room in a domus.

Lunette

A semicircular window or wall panel framed by an arch or vault.

Nave

The taller central space lit by clerestories and flanked by aisles.

Aisle

A lateral division of a church running parallel to the central nave and separated by colonnades.

Apse

A vaulted, semicircular, or semipolygonal space usually found at the sanctuary end of a church.

Transept

The transverse arms of a cross-shaped church, crossing the main axis at a right angle.

Narthex

The transverse vestibule of an early Christian church.

Atrium

The colonnaded forecourt of a Christian church.

Longitudinal axis

The main lengthwise axis of a building.

Latin cross plan

Church plan with long nave with shorter transept, also known as basilican plan.

Nave arcade

A series of arches supported by columns separating the nave from the side aisles.

Central plan

A ground plan that is symmetrical in all directions.

Mausoleum

A monumental building that houses a tomb or tombs.

Ambulatory

A processional passageway around a shrine or flanking the apse of a church.

Sarcophagus

Stone coffin.

Mosaic

Surface decoration formed by small cubes of glass or stone (tesserae) set in mortar or plaster.

Theocracy

A system of government ruled in the name of God or a god.

Pendentive

A curving triangular surface that makes the transition from the corners of a square or polygonal room to a circular dome or drum.

Squinich

A structural element used to support the base of a circular or octagonal dome that surmounts a square-plan chamber.

Hanging architecture

A structure with a design that develops downwards, giving the appearance of being suspended.

Exedra

A semicircular or rectangular recess.

Greek cross

A cross with four arms of equal length, often used in the plan of Byzantine churches.