ARCH 321 Test 2 Vocab

Forum

A public civic and commercial square in ancient Rome. It was usually surrounded by a colonnade and included a basilica and temple.

Bath

large complex in ancient rome for social activity, bathing, and exercise

Circus

An ancient Roman roofless enclosure, oblong in shape with one straight end, and with tiers of seats along both sides and at the other end, which was curved. It was used for horse and chariot races and gladiatorial contests.

Insula

an ancient roman apartment block

Tablinum

in an ancient Roman house, a room with one side open to the central courtyard or atrium

Atrium

the main inner hall of a Roman house, with an open roof and a central basin to catch rainwater, or the colonnaded forecourt of a Christian church

Basilica

in ancient roman architecture, a large meeting hall, often oblong in plan, with a high central space lit by clerestory windows; or the form of an early Christian church oblong with a high clerestoried nave ending in an apse flanked by two lower aisles and covered with a timber roof

Hypocaust System

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

Decumanus

main east-west oriented road in ancient roman orthogonal city grid

Cardo

the main north-south street in an ancient roman orthogonal city grid

Second Punic Wars

(218-201 BC) Rome v. Carthage resulting in Roman victory and increased power in the Mediterranean

Ptolemaic

Corinthian Order

the most attenuated and richly decorated of the three Greek orders acanthus leaves emerge from its capital and are topped by small volutes

Law of the Indies

body of laws issued by the spanish crown in 1573 for its colonies outside Europe

Northwest Ordinance 1785

US laws to establish order and division of land, inspired by Roman centuriation

Proscenium

the stage of an ancient greek or roman theatre

Stupa

a buddhist memorial mound that enshrines relics or marks a sacred site

Mandala

in Hindu thought, a magic diagram of the cosmos

Chaitya Hall

an Indian Buddhist cave temple or shrine carved out of a hillside aisled and often richly decorated with sculpture

Split

palace for the Roman Emperor Diocletian: Blend of Gothic and Renaissance styles

Congregational Church

oblong Christian church for public gathering and worship

Occasional Church

Christian buildings used for casual rites ex. baptisms or holy graves

Centuriation Grid

an ancient roman grid system of land division

Kiva

stone rooms found in carved cliff dwellings, used for ceremonial and social purposes

Vegas

Mesoamerican structural roof composed of stacking timber

Congregational

Occasional

Tribune

the apse of a church; the gallery in a chuch

Westworks

the elaborated west end of a Carolingian or Romanesque church. it consists of an entrance hall with a room above, which opens onto the nave, the whole topped with a brand tower

Triforium

in a medieval Christian church, a shallow arcaded passageway opening onto the nave above the nave arcade and below the clerstory

Palazzo

urban “palace” for the wealthy and powerful non-royal families during Italian Renaissance

Mihrab

a wall recess in a Muslim religious building indicating the direction toward Mecca

Ambulatory

a processional passageway around a shrine or flanking the apse of a christian church

Nave

in an ancient roman basilica the taller central space lit by the clerestory and flanked by aisles; in a Christian church the middle part of the western arm extending from the entrance to the crossing and flanked by aisles

Chapter House

a place of assembly for the business meetings of a monastery

Kaaba

muslim sacred site located in the great mosque of mecca

Ball Court

a mesoamerican structure and court that was the site of ritual ballgames

Centering

construction technique for ancient roman stone masonry. included wood frameworks to stabilize structure during construction

Vihara

residence for monks, a center for religious work and meditation and a center of Buddhist learning