Early Byzantine Empire AP Arty History

apse

the endpoint of a church where the altar is located

axial plan church

a church with a long nave whose focus is the apse, so-called because it is designed along an axis

basilica

In Christian architecture, an axially planned church with a long nave, side aisles, and an apse for the altar

catacomb

an underground cemetery of connecting passageways with recesses for tombs

central plan church

a church having a central plan with the altar in the middle

codex

an ancient manuscript text in book form.

continuous narrative

a work of art that contains several scenes of the same story painted or sculpted in a single frame

cubicula

small underground rooms in catacombs serving as mortuary chapels

encaustic

a type of painting in which pigment is suspended in a binder of hot wax

Eucharist

the bread sanctified by the priest at the Christian ceremony commemorating the Last Supper

icon

a devotional panel depicting a sacred image

Iconoclastic Controversy

debate between opponents and defenders of icons in the Byzantine Church

narthex

A porch or vestibule of a church, generally colonnaded or arcaded and preceding the nave.

martyrium

a shrine built over a place of martyrdom or a grave of a martyred Christian saint

lunette

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

loculi

a recess in an ancient catacomb or tomb, where a body or funerary urn was placed.

illuminated manuscript

a manuscript that is hand decorated with painted initials, marginal illustrations, and larger images that add a pictorial element to the written text

iconostasis

a screen decorated with icons, which separates the apse from the transept of a church

nave

the central part of a church building, intended to accommodate most of the congregation

XP

the Christian monogram made up of the letters khi and ro, the first two letters of Khristos, the Greek form of Christ's name

transept

an aisle in a church perpendicular to the nave, where the clergy originally stood

Theotokos

The Virgin Mary in her role as the Mother of God

squinch

the polygonal base of a dome that makes a transition from the round dome to a flat wall

spolia

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

pendentive

a construction shaped like a triangle that transitions the space between flat walls and the base of a round dome

paten

a plate, dish, or bowl used to hold the Eucharist at a Christian ceremony

orant figure

a figure with its hands raised in prayer