Ancient Roman Architecture, Government, and Art Key Terms

Monarchy

First Roman government with 7 Kings.

Republic

Citizens elect their leader(s).

Senate

Elected leaders in a government.

Consul

Leaders that ruled over the republic.

Dictator

Ruler with absolute power, only used in crisis for a short period.

Patrician

Wealthy upper class.

Plebeian

Lower class, poor people.

Spoils

Treasure brought from war.

Voussoir

Bricks around an arch.

Keystone

Piece the arch can't stand without.

Barrel vault

Hallway arch.

Groin Vault

Intersection of barrel vaults.

Oculus

Hole in dome for sunlight.

Domus

House in Rome.

Fauces

Narrow passage at the entrance

Atrium

Central, open area in a roman home

Impluvium

Shallow basin that collects rainwater

Compluvium

Hole in the roof that lates in sunlight/rainwater

Cubiculum

Bedroom in a roman house

Tablinum

Office/Study area

Triclinium

Dining area with 3 dining couches 

Peristyle

Covered, colonnaded walkway that surrounds the garden

Hortus

Open air garden

Tabernae

Shops outside the roman house

First Style

Imitate marble facing

Second Style

Meant to look like an expansion/real life

Third Style

Solid Color with small details

Fourth Style

Combination of 1-3

Cardo

Main N/S Road

Decumanus

Main E/W Road

Mosaic

Small piece that make big art piece

Tesserae

Tiles in Mosaic

Modeling 

Showing form through gradients 

Verism 

Highly realistic, exaggerated features w/age  

Denarius 

Silver Roman Coin