early christian and medieval ca3

Ambulatory

walkway around the outer wall of a church, passes behind the altar, allows visitors to access chapels without disturbing church service

Apse

A recess, usually semicircular, in the wall of a building, commonly found at the east end of a church.

Arcade

A series of arches supported by piers or columns.

Barrel Vault

the simplest form of vault consisting of an unbroken series of arches; it forms a tunnel like shape

basilica-plan church

a rectangular church, with the main entry on the west side, deriving from the Roman basilica

bay system

A unit of space defined by architectural elements such as columns, piers, and walls.

buttress

a support or prop

carpet page

In early medieval manuscripts, a decorative page resembling a textile.

catacomb

underground burial place

cathedral

The major church of a diocese, where the bishop has his seat

Central Plan Church

a church focused around a central on a central point, usually utilizing a square or octagonal plan

cloissone

A decorative process in which enamel is applied and fired in raised cells a usually metal background

Codex

an ancient manuscript text in book form.

crossing square

The area in a church formed by the intersection (crossing) of a nave and a transept of equal width, often used as a standard module of interior proportion.

cruciform

cross shaped

folio

pages (leaves) of a manuscript

horror vacui

a type of artwork in which the entire surface is filled with objects, people, designs, and ornaments in a crowded, sometimes congested way

illuminated manuscript

a luxurious handmade book with painted illustrations and decorations

interlace pattern

bands or portions of other motifs are looped, braided, and knotted in complex geometric patterns, often to fill a space

jamb

side posts of a doorway

Lunette

a crescent-shaped space

mandorla

an almond-shaped full body halo surrounding the figure of christ or other sacred figure

Mihrab

(Islam) a niche in the wall of a mosque that indicates the direction of Mecca

monastery

A place where communities of monks live lives of devotion to God in isolation from the outside world

tesserae

the small piece of stone, glass, or other object that is pieced together with many others to create a mosaic

Mosque

A Muslim place of worship

nave

The long central part of a church, extending from the entrance to the altar, with aisles along the sides.

orant figure

a figure with its hands raised in prayer

Vellum/Parchment

A fine animal skin prepared for writing and painting.

Pilgrimage

A journey to a place considered sacred for religious purposes.

portal

an entrance, door or gate

radiating chapels

a series of small chapels for the display of relics, which were arranged around an ambulatory

vaulted

constructed or covered with a vault, as a building or chamber

Relics

Bones or other objects connected with saint; considered worthy of worship by the faithful.

reliquary

A container where religious relics are stored or displayed (especially relics of saints)

rib vault

A vault in which diagonal arches form rib-like patterns. These arches partially support a roof, in some cases forming a weblike design

Secular

Non-religious

Spoila

the re-use of earlier building material or decorative sculpture on new monuments

Transept

the arm of a cruciform church perpendicular to the nave

trumeau

a column, pier, or post found at the center of a large portal or doorway, supporting the lintel

Umayyads

A dynasty that ruled the Muslim Empire from 661 to 750 and later established a kingdom in al-Andalus.

Zoomorphic

animal-shaped; having the form of an animal