Quiz 4

cathedra

seat of the bishop

fastigium

screen with a pediment separating laity from clergy

nave

central and principal part of a Christian church, extending from the entrance to the transepts

side aisles

the walkways adjacent to the nave

clerestory

the upper part of the nave, choir, and transepts of a large church, containing a series of windows

apse

a large semicircular or polygonal recess in a church, arched or with a domed roof, typically at the eastern end, and usually containing the altar

trussed wooden roof

roofing framework that uses wooden triangular units to support the roof deck and transferring loads to exterior walls

column

an upright pillar, typically cylindrical and made of stone or concrete, supporting an entablature, arch, or other structure or standing alone as a monument

architrave

a main beam resting across the tops of columns, specifically the lower third entablature

The Basilica of Maxentius and Constantine, c. 307 CE

• Christian basilicas follow the same format as Roman forum ones (which were for secular/civil gatherings)

• Facing east (rising sun/Jesus)

• apse reserved for bishop and clergy

The Theodosian Walls of Constantinople, 5th century

• shorter outer walls, moats, inner walls with archer towers

• defensive

• city was refounded as Nova Roma in 330 CE by Emperor Constantine

The Column of Constantine, 330 CE, Porphyry, Constantinople

• triumphal monument commemorating the dedication of Constantinople

• reminiscent of Column of Trajan (in form and in representing the expansion of the Roman Empire)

• porphyry was difficult to acquire and carve; associated with the imperial court

• scholars suspect that some kind of statue might have once been on top

Hagia Sophia, 532-37 CE, Constantinople

• rebuilt by mekanikoi (architect-engineers) Anthemius of Tralles and Isidorus of Miletus following Nika Revolt of 532; ordered by Justinian as symbol of imperial power

• dedicated to Christ of Holy Wisdom

• centrally-planned domed basilica combo

• one of the dome first designs in history to use pendentives

• porphyry columns

• went through several periods of iconoclasm and changes in function (church → mosque → museum → now mosque)

narthex

an antechamber, porch, or distinct area at the western entrance of some early Christian churches, separated off by a railing and used by catechumens, penitents, etc.

naos

the inner chamber or sanctuary of a classical temple; also known as the cella

aisle

a passage between rows of seats in a building such as a church or theater, an airplane, or a train

conch

the half dome of an apse, or a niche with a semi-dome over it

exedra

semicircular or rectangular niche with a raised seat

gallery

long, relatively narrow room or hall

central dome

a hemispherical structure that serves as a prominent feature, positioned at the center of a building; it lets in light and adds a sense of height, and in the Christian context can represent heaven

altar

facing east – covered/marked by a ciborium – often times with a relic

chancel screen / templon

a barrier surrounding the sanctuary

solea

processional passage into the nave

ambo

raised pulpit about the middle of the nave for the readings

opus sectile

omphalion “nave” of the earth; site where Byzantine emperors were crowned

iconoclasm

a theological debate, a controversy, about the nature of images and their functions, with wide-ranging political and social implications

Virgin Mary and Christ Child, Apse mosaic, After 843

• over eastern apse of Hagia Sophia

• overseeing activities of the altar

Deësis with Virgin Mary and St. John the Baptist

• mosaic on south side of Hagia Sophia

• Mary and John facing Christ with their hands raised in supplication on behalf of humanity

Emperor Leo IV kneeling before Christ, Imperial Gate mosaic

• above western main entrance

• gesture of supplication to Christ

• reminder to laity to bow before entering

“Mosaic of the Donors,” Emperor Constantine and Emperor Justinian, 10th c., South entrance

• over the vestibule (where the bodyguards of the emperor waited)

• Mary and Christ Child in center

• Justinian to the left offering model of Hagia Sophia; Constantine to the tight offering model of city of Constantinople

Cathedral of St. Sophia, Kyiv, Ukraine, c. 1037

• Patron: Yaroslav the Wise (r. 1019-1054)

• Kyiv was the largest kingdom of eastern Europe

• modeled after Hagia Sophia - originally looked more Byzantine, became more “Rusified”

The Suleymaniye Complex, Istanbul, 1550-1557 CE, Architect: Sinan (d.1588)

• contains documents concerning costs, materials, workers

• multifunctional - mosque, schools, hospital, baths, shops, mausoleum, etc.

• interior emulates Hagia Sophia

minaret

tower advertising the presence of a mosque; place from which to broadcast call to prayer five times a day

muqarnas

tiered niche-like ornament

arabesque

ornamental design of intertwined lines and natural forms

hajj

the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca that takes place in the last month of the year, and that all Muslims are expected to make at least once during their lifetime.

Qur’an

the principal text of Islam, which, according to Muslim belief, was dictated to Mohammed by the Archangel Gabriel between 610 and 632

The Kaaba, rededicated by Muhammad in 631-32 CE, Mecca, Saudi Arabia

• a square stone building in the center of the Great Mosque at Mecca,

• the site most holy to Muslims and toward which they must face when praying

• pilgrims must circumambulate seven times in counter-clockwise direction

• granite masonry, covered with silk curtain and calligraphy in gold and silver-wrapped thread

qibla

direction of Muslim prayer

tawaf

circumambulation (of Kaaba)

kiswa

the black cloth covering the Kaaba (replaced annually during the hajj)

caliphs

Muhammad’s successors

Olmec Civilization, c. 1500 BCE - 100 CE

• first settled civilization in Mesoamerica

• formative period of art (c. 1600 BCE - 350 CE)

  • defined by naturalism, carving in-the-round

Pelenque, c. 400 - 700 CE

• capital city-state of Maya Kingdom

• classic period of art (c. 250 - 900 CE)

  • defined by life-like sculpture

Aztec/Mexica, 1300 - 1521 CE

• Indigenous pre-conquest “empire,” overthrown by Spaniards 1521 CE

• postclassic period of art (900 - 1521 CE)

  • defined by flat, angular, static, stylized, conventionalized art

Colossal Head, basalt stone, San Lorenzo, 1500-900 BC

• Stone quarried in Zapotec and transported to San Lorenzo and La Venta

• monumental

• example of formative period naturalism: in the round, life-like

• individualized sculptures of Olmec rulers

  • as seen by different headdresses, hair, earlobes, etc.

Tizoc Stone, basalt stone, Mexico City, c. 1480s CE

• depiction of Aztec ruler Tizoc in warrior’s regalia taking captive the gods of conquered civilizations

• example postclassic period stylization: flat, angular, static

Colossal Head, basalt stone, La Venta, c. 900 BCE

• life-like and monumental while following conventional format

Olmec (possibly) mask, jadeite, c. 1470 CE

• cleft in head - fontanelle? sign of life

• found in Aztec-era burial deposit

• “Olmec” is a Nahua word (language of Mexica)

Altar 5, La Venta, 900 - 400 BCE

• a sense of anatomical weight

• may be a deified ruler or warrior; feline mouth/cave

• holding infant-like being (“kunz axe?”)

“Kunz Axe,” jadeite, c. 600 BCE

• not really sure what it is - infant? jaguar? toad?

• jadeite was a prized material of the Olmecs - sourced in modern day Guatemala (Olmecs based in southwestern coast of Gulf of Mexico)

• holding an object that looks like itself

Stone “Yoke,” Olmec, c. 500 CE

• used in Olmec ball game - swing balls through rings - loser/winner? sacrificed

• represents the thatch belts worn by players for protection

Temple of Inscriptions, Palenque, c. 400 - 900 CE

• funerary complex in King Paka’s palace-complex

• cosmological significance - 9 levels = levels of Maya underworld; 365 steps = agricultural cycle

• temple walls inscribed with inscription: history of city, King Pakal’s accession, lineage, and rulership

Portrait of King Pakal, Palace of the Inscriptions, c. 683, stucco

• dated to his death date

• dynastic - assumed kingship from mother

• idealized yet life-like

King Pakal’s sarcophagus lid, c. 683

• maize - source of life

• king as intermediary between the heavens - symbolized by world tree, bird, jaws of the underworls

Portrait of Moctezuma II, c. 1465 - 1520 CE

• ruler when Spanish landed - portrait defaced by Spainsh colonizers

• carved into volcanic cliff face

• fontal, full-body holding attributes of rulership (staff, shield)

Dome of the Rock, completed 691 CE, Jerusalem

• First major architectural monument of Islam

• Established Muslim influence in Jerusalem

• Site of Adam’s burial/Ibrahim’s sacrifice/Mohammed’s mi’raj w/ Gabriel

mihrab

shallow niche facing Mecca

minbar

pulpit from which the imam conducts Friday prayers

qibla wall

wall facing Mecca

maqsura

screened space under the dome used for ceremonies, reserved for the caliph and his entourage

sahn

open courtyard of mosque

prayer hall (riwaq)

main prayer area of mosque

Old St. Peter’s, Rome, c. 324-400

• demolished and rebuilt in the 16th century

• Space where Charlemagne was crowned Holy Roman Emperor

• Example of longitudinal church; greatest Constantinian church

• Apostles’ martyrium; gave special prominence to altar through this additional significance

baldachin

canopy that designates place of honor

martyrium

building that houses sacred relics or the remains of a holy person

crossing

meeting square of transept and nave in longitudinally planned structures; sometimes emphasized with a tower

Theotokos

Mary as the birthgiver of God

Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome, c. 432-440

• First church dedicated to Mary after she was declared Theotokos

• Depicts events from Hebrew Bible to Jesus’ birth