architecture a3

oculus

the round central opening of a dome

central plan

a church or structure having a circular plan with the altar or focus in the middle

catacomb

underground burial place

lunette

a crescent-shaped space, sometimes over a doorway, that contains sculpture or painting

nave

The long central part of a church, extending from the entrance to the altar

apse

A recess, usually semicircular, in the wall of a building, commonly found at the east end of a church.

transept

The part of a church with an axis that crosses the nave at a right angle.

KIva

a round room used by the Pueblo peoples for religious ceremonies

Pueblo

a communal village built by Indians in the southwestern United States

sipapu

A hole in the floor of a kiva that is a doorway between the spirit world and the physical world.

Cult figure

Figures of religious devotion

curvalinear

formed, bound, or characterized by curved lines

relief sculpture

A sculpture that comes forward from a flat surface, as opposed to being freestanding.

atrium

open central room of a structure

Arcade

A series of arches supported by piers or columns.

vault

an arched brick or stone ceiling or roof

barrel vault

an elongated or continuous semicircular vault, shaped like a half cylinder

keystone

a central stone at the summit of an arch, locking the whole together.

basilica

In Roman architecture, a civic building for legal and other civic proceedings, rectangular in plan with an entrance usually on a long side. In Christian architecture, a church somewhat resembling the Roman basilica, usually entered from one end and with an apse at the other.

longitudinal plan

a structure designed along one straight axis, longer than it is wide

coffers

A recessed decorative panel that is used to reduce the weight of and to decorate ceilings or vaults.

spoila

in art history, the reuse of architectural or sculptural pieces in buildings generally different from their original contexts

Narrative

The telling of a story or an account of an event or series of events.

forum

A Roman public meeting place