5-Early-Christian-and-Byzantine

Atrium

An open forecourt surrounded by arcades in an early Christian basilica.

Narthex

A roofed area for penitents immediately in front of the main church doors in an early Christian basilica.

Nave

The central aisle of a church.

Baldachino

A columned canopy over the main altar of a church.

Apse

A semi-circular sanctuary located behind the main altar in a church.

Bema

A raised platform for the clergy in a church.

Choir

An enclosed area for cloistered monks or nuns in a church.

Cancelli

A screen enclosure around a choir in a church.

Ambo

A raised pulpit on either side of the altar in a church, used for reading the epistles or gospels.

Baptistery

A separate structure from the basilica used for the rite of baptism.

Pendentive

A construction device for a dome on a square base, consisting of triangular elements supporting the dome.

Squinch

A construction filling in the upper angles of a square room to form a base for an octagonal or spherical dome.