roman ca2

Arcuated construction

relies on a round arch as a basic unit for creating a variety of architectural spaces

Ashlar Masonry

smooth stone masonry laid so that the joints are visible

Attic

The uppermost story of a building, triumphal arch, or city gate.

ATRIUM

open area of a roman house, usually in the center

BARREL VAULT

an elongated or continuous semicircular vault, shaped like a half cylinder

BASILICA

a Roman building used for public administration

COFFER

In architecture, a sunken panel in a ceiling

COMPOSITE COLUMN/CAPITAL

form made up of parts from different, nonuniform orders

CONCRETE

building material made by mixing small stones and sand with limestone, clay, and water

CONTEMPORARY

modern; up-to-date

current, modern; from the same time

CUIRASS

Breastplate

DOME

a large rounded roof or ceiling that is shaped like half of a ball

ELEVATION

Different levels of a piece of architecture (stories), drawing of a wall of a building (interior or exterior)

EMPIRE

an extensive group of states or countries under a single, supreme authority

ENCAUSTIC

A type of painting in which pigment is suspended in a binder of hot wax.

FORUM

Open space in Rome that served as a marketplace and public square

FRESCO

painting on wet plaster (usually fresh)

IDEALISM

the best possible version of a thing that could be imagined, rather than as it actually is. In art, presenting a person or object as perfect rather than as a specific portrait

ILLUSIONISM

the artistic skill or trick of making something look real, troupe l'oeil (fool the eye)

IMPLUVIUM

In a Roman house, the basin located in the atrium that collected rainwater.

OCULUS

the round central opening of a dome

PATRICIAN

the ruling class of ancient Rome

PAX ROMANA

200 year period of peace in Rome, began by Augustus

PERISTYLE

Row of columns around a building or court

PERSPECTIVE

An artistic technique that creates the appearance of three dimensions on a flat surface

PLEBIAN

An ordinary citizen in the ancient Roman republic

PROPAGANDA

Ideas spread to influence public opinion for or against a cause.

REPUBLIC

People elect leaders to govern them

ROUND ARCH

A curved architectural support element that spans an opening

SENATE

A group of 300 men elected to govern Rome in the Roman Republic.

SPANDREL

The almost triangular space between one side of the outer curve of an arch, a wall, and the ceiling or framework.

SPOILS

Riches claimed from war, loot

TRICLINIUM

dining hall

TRIUMPHAL ARCH

A freestanding Roman arch commemorating an important event.

VAULT

a tunnel with a curved roof (longer than an arch)

VERISM

True to natural appearance; super-realistic.

CLERESTORY

A row of windows in the upper part of a wall.

NAVE

the main aisle of a church

APSE

A recess, usually semicircular, in the wall of a Roman basilica or at the east end of a church.

CATACOMBS

A series of tunnels in an underground burial place

LONGITUDINAL

lengthwise

TRAVERTINE

White or light-colored calcareous rock deposited from mineral springs, used in building. Expensive.

ATMOSPHERIC PERSPECTIVE

Objects in the distance appear to be bluer, smaller, and less distinct

ONE POINT PERSPECTIVE

a perspective system with a single vanishing point on the horizon (aka linear poor mathematical perspective)