Late aquinity

lunette

A half moon shaped space above a door or window, often filled with art

tesserae

Small pieces of stone, glass, or tile used to create mosaics

head cluster

Group of closely applied heads in a sculpture or painting showing tight crowds

nimbus

A halo or ring of light round a holy figure's head

repoussé

Metal working technique where a design is pushed out from the back

illuminated manuscript

Handwritten books decorated with gold, silver, and bright illustrations

folio

A single leaf of paper or parchment in a book

codex

Ancient book made of stacked, bound pages

vellum

Fine animal skin used as writing surface, made from calfskin

parchment

Writing material made from treated sheep or goat skin

diptych

A 2 panel painting or carved wooden/ivory folding tablet

baptistery

A separate building or room used for baptism

catacombs

Underground burial tunnels used by early Christians

loculi

Shelf like niches carved into catacomb walls to hold bodies

cubicula

Small underground rooms or chambers used as family tombs in catacombs

narthex

The entrance porch or lobby of a church

nave

The central, main aisle of a church where the congregation sits

transept

The cross-form of a church that cuts across the main nave

apse

A large semi-circular recess at the end of a church

arcade

Series of arches supported by columns or piers

central-plan building

A building where parts are equal length from the center point

cruciform

Cross shaped architectural design for a church

ambulatory

Covered walkway curving round the center point or apse of a church

Dura-Europos

An ancient Roman/Syrian border town with early Christian, Jewish, and pagan art

Jerusalem

A holy city in the Middle East content to Christianity, Judaism, and Islam

Constantinople

The capital of Byzantine Empire, founded by Constantine

Ravenna

An Italian city famous for its preserved Byzantine mosaics

Rome

The capital of the Roman Empire

Constantine

The Roman emperor who legalized Christianity

Theodosius I

Roman emperor who made Christianity the official state religion

Torah

First 5 books of the Hebrew Bible

Pentateuch

First 5 books of the Christian old testament

confraternity

Christian burial club or social religious organization

prefiguration

Old Testament events/people that hint at or predict New Testament events

orants

Ancient figures depicted praying with raised arms

liturgy

The official public worship service of the church

Justinian

Rebuilt the Hagia Sophia and expanded the empire

Theodora

Empress, wife of Justinian

Anthemius of Tralles & Isidorus of Miletos

Primary architects chosen by Justinian to design the Hagia Sophia

iconoclasm

Historical ban or destruction of religious images

mandorla

An almond-shaped halo of light surrounding holy figures

icon

Sacred painting of Jesus, Mary, or Saints used for prayer

iconoclast

Someone who destroys or opposes icons

iconophile

Someone who supports and defends the use of icons

triptych

A 3 panel folding painting or relief carving

psalter

A book containing the psalms

iconostasis

A wall of icons separating the altar from the rest of the church

chi-rho-iota

Monogram for the first letters of Christ's name in Greek

paten

Small dish used for bread during communion

monasticism

Lifestyle dedicated to prayer apart from worldly society

pantokrator

An image of Christ as the almighty ruler of the universe

crucifixion

Execution of Jesus on a cross

Greek-cross plan

A church floor plan shaped like a cross with four equal arms

pendentives

Triangular curved masonry pieces used to transition from a square base to a round dome

squinches

Arches or lintels built across the corners of a square room to support a round dome

drum

A circular or polygonal wall that supports a dome

choir

The area of a church near the altar reserved for singers

refectory

The dining hall in a monastery

martyrium

A church or shrine built over the tomb of a Christian martyr

muqarnas

Ornamental vaulting curved like honeycomb stalactites in Islamic/Byzantine influenced architecture

templon

Stone screen or barrier in early Byzantine churches

parekklesion

A side chapel attached to a Byzantine church