Chapter 8 Early Medieval & Romanesque Architecture

cloister vault

A type of ceiling formed by the intersection of two or more barrel vaults, commonly used in Romanesque architecture for walkways or galleries.

westwork

The western façade of a church, typically consisting of a grand entrance, towers, and an upper gallery, often found in Carolingian and Romanesque architecture.

campaniles

Tall bell towers, often freestanding, commonly associated with Romanesque and Gothic architecture, used to house bells and serve as a landmark.

abbey

A complex of buildings used by a community of monks or nuns, typically including a church, cloister, and various communal living spaces.

cloister

a covered walkway with an open colonnade or arcade that runs along the walls of a building and surrounds an inner courtyard (called a garth)

chapter house

a building, room, or suite of rooms where the administrative body or members of an organization meet, conduct business, or reside

stave

a tall post, peeled tree trunk used in construction

transverse arch

A transverse arch is a supporting masonry arch that runs crosswise (perpendicular to the length) across a barrel vault or tunnel vault

rib vaults

an architectural ceiling or roof structure made from a skeleton of crossed or diagonal stone arches (ribs) with thin stone panels (called webbing or cells) filling the spaces in between

lantern

a tower with windows rising above the roofline or above the oculus of a dome

tympanum

The semi-circular or triangular decorative wall surface located above a door, window, or entrance, bounded by a lintel and an arch.

stereotomy

the art and science of cutting three-dimensional solid materials—such as stone or wood—into precise shapes so they can be assembled into complex architectural structures like vaults, arches, and timber roofs

diagonal ribs

:A main structural arch or molding that runs diagonally across a square or rectangular vault compartment, springing from the corners to intersect at the apex.

galilee

a porch or chapel at the west end of medieval churches