Medieval Architecture RISD

Altar

Elevated block or table which religious ceremonies are performed; in the jewish temple, used for animal sacrifices and other offerings to god; in christian churches, used for consecration of the eucharistic elements

Ambulatory

aisle to facilitate circulation, especially one that curves around the east end of a church

Apse

vaulted semicircle space, often in the end wall of a longitudinal church

Arcade

row of arches carried on columns, piers, or pilasters

ashland masonry

precisely cut stone masonry

atrium

unroofed courtyard in front of a house or public building

bapistry

a building used for baptism

barrel vault

continuous semicircle, tunnel like vault

basilica

longitudinal building often with wider taller central nave and narrower lower flanking aisles adopted for christian religious use from roman arch

bay

unit of a building defined by vertical supports such as two piers or columns including the vaults above that space

bema

sanctuary area of a synagogue or church

capital

arch element that crowns a pier or column and separates it from what it supports; often carved

catacomb

underground cemetery w multi narrow passages that open into rooms

clerestory

window zone of a wall

cloister

unroofed multipurpose space in a monastery or cathedral enclosed by roofed walkways usually connecting the south side of the church with other buildings

crypt

vaulted space in a church often for tombs or relics usually under the main story

drum (dome)

cylindrical or polygonal structure structure that supports a dome

historiated (capital)

decorated with identifiable scenes or figures such as a manuscript initial or a capital

horseshoe arch

arch shaped like horseshoe, began with visagoths

hypostyle

many columns

martyrium

shrine built in memory of a martyr

lintel

horizontal element that spans a door window or other opening

mihrab

niche in mosque where congregation faces to pray

mosaic

decorative tech for walls or floors that uses small tesserae to create images or patterns

naos

main worship space in a byzantine centrally planned church including the area under the dome but excluding the sanctuary

narthex

vestibule that precedes the entrance into the main space of a church often extending the width of the facad

nave

central aisle of a longitudinal building often wider and taller that the side aisles from which it is separated by columns or piers

pediment

triangular element in architecture often over an opening

pendentive

curved triangle that makes a transition from a square base or bay to a circular dome

pier

vertical support, often rectangular

rib

bands of protruding masonry that supports a vault or dome

spolia

materials or artifacts taken and reused in a setting culturally or chronologically different from that of their creation

transept

wide aisle perpendicular to the nave and aisles in a basilica usually toward the east end in a christian church before the apse creating a cross shape plan

triconch

part of a building with a semicircular apse on three sides of a rectangular space

westwork

monumental west end of a European medieval building often with two towers and an upper story chamber