Medieval Architecture Vocab Quiz

altar

elevated block or table on which religious ceremonies are performed

ambulatory

aisle to facilitate circulation, especially one that curves around the east end of a church

apse

semicircular vaulted space in the east wall of a church

arcade

row of arches supported by columns, piers, or pilasters

ashlar masonry

precisely cut stone masonry

atrium

unroofed courtyard in front of a public building

baptistry

a portion of the church set aside for baptisms, a side chapel, or a separate building

barrel vault

continuous semicircular, tunnel-like vault

basilica

longitudinal building with a central nave and narrower flanking aisles

bay

two piers or columns and the vaults above that space

bema

sanctuary area of a church

capital

crowns a pier or column and separates it from what it supports

catacomb

underground cemetery with multiple narrow passages that open into rooms

clerestory

row of windows on the upper walls of the nave

cloister

unroofed multipurpose space in a monastery or cathedral, enclosed by roofed walkways, usually connecting the south side of the church with other buildings

crypt

vaulted space in a church, often for tombs or relics, usually under the main story

drum (dome)

cylindrical or polygonal structure that supports a dome

historiated

decorated with identifiable scenes or figures; low relief carvings on a capital

horseshoe arch

an arch in the shape of a horseshoe, typically found in visagoth architecture

hypostyle

many rows of columns supporting a roof

lintel

horizontal element that spans a door, window, or other opening

martyrium

shrine built in memory of a martyr

mihrab

arched niche in the qibla wall of a mosque that indicates the direction of prayer, toward mecca

mosaic

decorative technique for walls or floors that uses small tesserae to create images or patterns

naos

main worship space in a centrally planned byzantine church

narthex

vestibule that precedes the entrance into the main space of a church

nave

central aisle of a longitudinal building, wider and taller than the side aisles

pediment

triangular element above an opening

pendentive

curved triangle that transitions the square base or bay to a dome

pier

vertical support, rectangular and of stone

rib

bands of protruding masonry that support a vault or dome

spolia

materials or artifacts taken and reused in a setting culturally or chronologically different from that of their creation

transept

wide aisle perpendicular to the nave and aisles in a basilica; usually before the apse in christian churches, creating a cross-shape plan

triconch

semicircular apses on three sides of a rectangular space

westwork

monumental west end of a european medieval building, often with two towers and an upper-storey chamber