History of Art architecture terms

post and lintel (trabeated)

a building system consisting of vertical beams (posts) supporting a horizontal beam (lintel)

Doric

no base; round capital; triglyphs and metopes

Ionic

base; decorated capitals (volutes); narrower and deeper fluting; scalloped edge to fluting; generally more adventurous; smaller capital; shaft more equal throughout; stepped architrave

Corinthian

stepped architrave; shaft diameter wider at the bottom and narrower at the top; leafy capital

post

vertical beams

lintel

horizontal beam supported by posts

stylobate

a continuous base supporting a row of columns in classical Greek architecture

shaft

the body of a column

capital

the top element of a column

volute

ornament from ionic capital resembling a rolled scroll

abacus

the topmost part of a column, supporting the lintel

architrave/lintel

the part on top the columns

metopes

a square space between triglyphs in a Doric frieze

triglyphs

an element of the Doric frieze with three grooves separating metopes (believed to echo the time when temples were constructed of wood)

cornice

the slab on top of the frieze

frieze

term for the metopes and triglyphs

entablature

collective term for the cornice, frieze and architrave/lintel

drums

the separate cylindrical parts that make up a shaft; usually with a hole in the middle for a rod

monolithic

made of a single block of stone

colonnade

row of columns

peristyle

columns encircling a building

caryatid

a female figure sculpture that functions as a supporting column

cella

the main room of a temple where the god is housed

porch

a covered area in front of the entrance to a Greek building

cult statue

the statue of the deity that stood in the cella of an ancient temple

anta

the walls coming off a cella

treasury

the room in a Greek temple without an entrance into the cella

in antis

term used to describe the position of columns set between two walls

dipteral

surrounded by a double row of columns

peripteral

surrounded by a single row of columns

hexastyle

six columns in front and rear of a Greek building

octastyle

eight columns in front or rear of a Greek temple.

pediment

the triangular area above the cornice where sculptures may be placed

arches (arcuated)

a building system using arches to create and define space

centring

a temporary (wooden) framework support under an arch during its construction

keystone (central voussoir)

middle stone in a circular arch

voussoirs

a wedge-shaped piece of stone used in arch construction

impost

a horizontal projection from a wall or post on which an arch rests

vault

a curved ceiling made of arches

barrel vault (tunnel)

a vault forming a half cylinder

arcade

series of arches

basilica

central space with an apse on one end

apse

a large semicircular recess in a church, arched or with a domed roof

half-dome

half of a dome used to vault a semicircular space like an apse

hemispherical dome

ring vault (annula)

groin vault

a vault formed when two barrel vaults meet at right angles

Tuscan

no fluting

Roman Doric

order that is slimmer, equal throughout, base

Composite

combination of corinthian capital with volutes

hoop stress

circumferential tensile stress

opus reticulation

a diamond formation of brickwork used in ancient Roman architecture

pedestal

the support at the foot of a column

pier

a vertical support that holds up an arch or a vault

bay

the space between two columns

aedicule

the architectural frame of an opening composed of an entablature and pediment supported by columns or pilasters

pilaster

a rectangular column, especially one projecting from a wall

podium

raised platform supporting a column; under a pedestal

spandrel

a triangular space enclosed by the curves of arches

inscription

words that are written on or cut into a surface

attic storey

topmost storey of a building

roundel

a circular painting or relief sculpture

rotunda

the cylindrical building where a dome sits on top of

coffering

a series of sunken panels in the shape of a square, rectangle, or octagon in a vault

egg and dart molding

bead and reel molding

dentil molding

meander motif

tholos

an ancient Greek circular shrine

broken pediment

a pediment which is interrupted by another element

superimposed

where a structure is placed on top of and on another structure

ballustrade

small balcony railing

clerestorey

upper storey of windows

lantern

a small structure with openings for light that crowns a dome

narthex

entrance porch of a church

pendentive

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

string course

a horizontal band of brickwork indicating the storeys of a building

giant order

an order whose columns extend through more than one storey

shell niche

a niche with a shell pattern at the top

tympanum

the space enclosed by a lintel and an arch over a doorway

transept

(in a cross-shaped church) either of the two parts forming the arms of the cross shape, projecting at right angles from the nave.

crossing

the area where the nave and transept meet

nave

the central area of a church

aisle

the portion of a basilica flanking the nave and separated from it by a row of columns or piers

choir/chancel

the area in a church for the clergy that extends from the nave and crossing

radiating chapels

small chapels that extend from the ambulatory, usually holding reliquaries

ambulatory

the aisle around an apse

historiated capital

a capital incorporating a narrative element usually an episode from the Bible or the life of a saint

reliquary

a container for holy relics

blind

no glass

interlaced blind arcade

two sets of decorative arcades interlocked with each other with no glass

horseshoe arch

an arch of more than a half-circle; typical of western Islamic architecture

rib vaulting

a vault in a ceiling supported by or decorated with diagonal ribs

buttresses

a support built against an external wall, to counteract the lateral thrust of a vault or arch within

flying buttresses

a projecting, separate support built with bridges connected to a building; used to transfer the weight and thrust of vaults to large piers

triforium gallery

passageway above the aisle in Gothic buildings

archivolts

one of the series of concentric bands framing the tympanum

jamb

the side posts of a portal

jamb figures

a figure carved on the jambs of a portal

trumeau

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