Art His.

Abacus

On a classical column, the stone set directly over the capital

Acroterion

An upright ornament decorating roofs in Greek architecture

Aisle

In a basilican church, the portion set parallel to the nave and separated from it by supports

Ambulatory

The curving passageway behind the choir of a church

Anta

A thickening of the wall edge of jamb

Apse

The termination of the nave of the nave or choir in a basilican church

Arcade

A series of arches carried on columns or piers

Arch

A curved element that spans an opening and supports the structural loads above it

Architrave

In classical architecture, the bottom portion of an entablature

Archivolt

an ornamental molding around an arch

Arris

The intersection of two curved surfaces

Ashlar

Smooth stone masonry laid so that the joints are visible

Atrium

An open central space or courtyard surrounded by architectural supports

Attic

The story built above the cornice of a building

Axis

A line of movement through a structure that divides it into equal portions

Balcony

A platform cantilevered from a wall, generally surrounded by a railing

Baldachin/Baldacchino

An elaborate canopy erected over an altar

Baptistery

A building, generally octagonal, used for the Christian rite of Baptism

Barrel Vault

A semicircular vault over a rectangular space

Base

The lowest part of a column of pier, often broader than the sections above to spread the load to the foundation Basilica

Battlements/Crenellations

A parapet type common in fortifications with alternating solid parts and openings

Bay

A building module defined by the repetition of a support element

Beam

A horizontal element that carries structural loads between upright supports

Belt Course/String Course

A projecting band on the exterior of a structure that defines the floor level on the interior Boss

Broken Pediment

A pediment split apart at its apex or at the center of its base

Buttress

Masonry reinforcement applied to a wall to provide additional strength

Cantilever

A beam firmly anchored on one end and unsupported at the other end

Capital

In classical architecture, the vertical termination of a column, generally given decorative carving Caryatid

Cella

The shrine room in the center of a temple

Cement

The binding component of concrete

Centering

The wooden scaffold or form required to support a masonry vault or arch while under construction

Chancel

The east end of a church, in which the main altar is placed

Choir

The eastern end of a basilican church where the divine service is sung

Cloister

In a monastery, the covered walk surrounding a quadrangular court that connects domestic space to the church Clerestory

Coffers

Ceiling recesses set in a geometric pattern

Colonnade

A linear series of columns supporting a wall or entablature

Column

In classical architecture, the upright structural element consisting of a base, shaft and capital

Composite Order

The Roman order combining features of the Ionic and Corinthian

Concrete

Aggregates bound together by cement to form a pourable mixture that hardens to the consistency of stone Console

Coquille

A seashell-like organic form

Corbel

Masonry that projects slightly from a wall and serves as a support

Corbeled Vault

Construction, without true arching action, made by shifting opposing courses slightly and regularly inward until they meet

Corinthian Order

The Greek order that features acanthus-leaf capitals atop a fluted shaft

Cornice

The overhanging molding atop a building or entablature

Cortile

In Italian architecture, the term applied to an open courtyard inside a building

Crocket

Decorative bud-like protrusions on the angles of Gothic stonework, especially on spires and towers

Crossing

In a basilican church, the space where transepts, nave and choir intersect

Cross-in-Square/Quincunx Plan

Five modules arranged in a square with one in the center

Crypt

The basement level of a church, often used for burial

Cupola

The structure over the oculus of a dome

Cyclopean Masonry

Walls made of very large, unformed or minimally formed stone

Dentil

A type of cornice molding composed of rectangular block set in a row like teeth

Diagonal Rib

A rib crossing a bay diagonally from pier impost to pier impost

Dome

A continuously curved roof over a circular or polygonal plan, generally having a semicircular or elliptical section Domos

Doric Order

The Greek order that has a fluted shaft, no base and an echinus molding supporting the abacus

Dormer

A window that projects beyond the slope of a roof

Drum

The cylindrical volume supporting a dome

Eave

The edge of the roof plane that projects over the exterior wall of a building

Echinus

The curved molding that, together with the abacus, forms the capital in the Doric order

Egg -and-Dart

An egg-shaped ornament alternating with a dart-shaped ornament

Entablature

In classical architecture, the horizontal elements supported by columns, consisting of the architrave, frieze and cornice

Entasis

The slight outward bulge of a column that then tapers toward the top of the shaft

Exedra

A semicircular niche

Façade

The exterior elevation of a building

Fan Vault

Vaults with ribs having the same curvature and radiating from the springing of the vault

Fillet

The flat, vertical face between the flutings of a column shaft

Flute/Fluting

Vertical grooves incised in the shaft of a classical column

Flying Buttress

The combination of external buttress pier and slender arch, which attaches to a wall just below the springing of the vaulting in order to resist lateral thrust

Frieze

The horizontal element above the architrave and below the cornice in an entablature

Gable

The triangular space at the end of a double-pitched roof

Gallery

The passage over the aisle in medieval churches

Greek-Cross Plan

A plan in the form of a cross having arms of equal length

Groin Vault

The vault formed by two intersecting barrel vaults

Half-Timbering

Wall construction with heavy timber members carrying the structural load and made weathertight with infill materials

Hammerbeam

A bracketed cantilevered beam used as support for a timber roof truss

Hemicycle

A semicircular room or recess

Hipped Roof

A roof built with inclined gables on all four sides

Hypostyle Hall

A large hall composed of many columns placed close together to support the roof

In-Antis-Columns

Columns in the plane of a wall between antae

Ionic Order

The Greek Order that features volutes in the capital set atop a fluted shaft with a base

Jamb

an upright piece or surface forming the side of an opening

Keystone

the wedge-shaped piece at the crown of an arch that locks the other pieces in place

Lintel

Any horizontal member that spans an opening

Loggia

An open porch, generally raised above the ground floor and covered with a roof

Lunette

The semicircular projection of a window opening in a vaulted ceiling

Martyrium

A building associated with a Christian martyr

Mastaba

An Egyptian tomb with a flat top and sloping sides, built over a grave shaft

Mausoleum

An elaborate, architectural tomb

Megalith

Large stones or boulders used in prehistoric architecture

Megaron

In Mycenaean architecture, a rectangular room having a central hearth and four columns supporting a roof with an atrium opening

Metope

A flat or low-relief sculpted panel set alternatively with triglyphs in the Doric order

Mortise

A rectangular opening, or socket, prepared to receive a tenon, usually in wooden construction

Mullion

a slender vertical member that forms a division between units of a window

Naos

The sanctuary of a Greek temple

Narthex

The entrance porch or chamber before the nave of a church

Nave

The central passage of a Basilica

Niche

A wall recess

Obelisk

A stone monolith, square in plan, with sides tapering to a pyramidal top

Oculus

The circular opening at the apex of a dome

Opisthodomos

The enclosed room at the back of a Greek temple that is often used as a treasury