Art History Final

cubiculum (pl. cubicula)

a chamber in an Early Christian catacomb that served as a mortuary chapel

Lunette

a semi-circular area (flat side down) in a wall over a door, niche, or window

catacomb

vast underground networks of galleries and chambers that served as cemeteries

Spolia

fragments of older architecture or sculpture reused in a secondary context

Orant

of a standing figure represented praying with outstretched and upraised arms

Loculi

architectural compartments or niches that house a body, as in a catacomb, hypogeum, mausoleum or other place of entombment

Tondo

a circular painting or relief sculpture

Triumphal Arch

a monumental structure in the shape of an archway with one or more arched passageways built to commemorate victory

sarcophagus

literally "flesh eater" a coffin, usually of stone

prefiguration

the depiction of Old Testament persons and events as prophetic forerunners of Christ and New Testament events

Constantine

emerging victorious after a decisive battle in 312 CE, the Roman emporer issued the Edict of Milan, granting religious tolerance within the empire

Edict of Milan

issued by Constantine in 313, ended the "great persecution" and legalized Christianity in the Roman Empire

Icon

a portrait or image of a sacred personages that are objects of veneration

Pantokrator

Greek, "ruler of all." Christ as his role as Last

Central Plan

an architectural design wherein the parts of the structure are of equal or almost equal dimensions around the center

Pendentive

a curved triangle of vaulting formed by the intersection of a dome with its supporting arches.

Mandorla

a representation of light surrounding the body of a holy figure

Anastasis

in Christian art, a pictorial representation of the event just before the Resurrection, which Western Christians call the Descent into Limbo or the Harrowing of Hell

Martyrium

church built over the grave of a martyr

Koimesis

the "falling asleep," or death of the Virgin

Hijra

The Migration of Muhammad from Mecca to Medina in A.D. 622, marking the founding of Islam

Javab

("answer" or "echo") building placed opposite the mosque at the Taj Mahal to create a sense of balance

Surah

A chapter of the Qur'an

Jali

a perforated stone or latticed screen, usually with an ornamental pattern constructed through the use of calligraphy and geometry

Mosque

("masjid," a place for prostration) place where the faithful gathers for daily prayer

Char-Bagh

quadrilateral garden layout based on the four gardens of Paradise mentioned in the Qur'an

Caliph

the chief Muslim civil and religious ruler, regarded as the successor of Muhammad

Muezzin

the person who calls the faithful to prayer five times each day

pietra dura

an inlay technique using shaped and polished colored stones to create designs and images

Cenotaph

("false tomb") a monument erected in honor of a deceased person or persons whose remains are unburied or buried elsewhere

Shah Jahan

this Mughal ruler is best known as the builder of the Taj Mahal

Humayun

Forced into exile, this person found refuge in the Persian court of Tahmasp I, and later brought back several artists for his own atelier.

Babur

this descendant of the legendary Genghis Khan is the founder of the Mughal Empire

Akbar

The greatest ruler of all Mughal rulers, this person expanded and solidified control over northern India, establishing a stable government

Jahangir

The fourth Mughal Emporer, he valued a precise accuracy in the works of his painters

Mihrab

prayer niche, symbolic gateway of Paradise

Sahn

inner courtyard, often with a water feature

Iwan

gateway, transition

Qibla

Direction towards Mecca

Minaret

a tower from which the muezzin calls the faithful to prayer

Hajj

Pilgrimage to Mecca

Zakat

charity, giving to those in need

Sawm

fasting from dawn to sunset during Ramadan

Salat

Daily prayer

Shahada

confession of faith

Colophon

the production information given at the end of a book

Cloisonné

decorative work in which enamel, glass, or gemstones are separated by strips of flattened wire placed edgeways on a metal backing.

Zoomorphic

an abstraction of animal forms

carpet pages

pages of mainly geometric ornamentation in an illuminated manuscript, often placed at the beginning of each Gospel

Scriptorium

a room set apart for writing, especially one in a monastery where manuscripts were copied.

Gospels

the first four books of the New Testament that chronicle the life of Jesus

Pilgrimage

a journey, especially a long one, made to some sacred place as an act of religious devotion

Ambulatory

a continuous aisle around a circular building, or a semi-circular aisle curving around the apse of a church behind the main altar

Reliquary

a container used for storing or displaying relics

relic

an object esteemed and venerated because of association with a saint or martyr

feudalism

the medieval political, social, and economic system held together by the relationship between landholding liege lords and their vassals