PRE HISTORIC ARCHITECTURE AND EGYPTIAN ARCHITECTURE – VOCABULARY FLASHCARDS

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from Prehistoric and Egyptian architecture, including types of monuments, architectural orders, temple features, and iconic structures.

Monolith (Menhir)

A single, large upright stone erected as part of prehistoric monuments.

Dolmen

A tomb formed by two or more vertical stones supporting a horizontal capstone.

Cromlech

A megalithic tomb consisting of a circle or arc of standing stones, often with a capstone.

Rock cave

A natural cave used as shelter or dwelling in prehistoric times.

Beehive hut

A domed, beehive-shaped shelter used in ancient and prehistoric architecture.

Hut

A simple shelter or dwelling made from available materials.

Stonehenge

A famous prehistoric stone circle in Wiltshire, England.

Megalithic

Relating to large stones used in prehistoric monuments.

Dwellings

Habitations or places where people live.

Religious monument

A structure built for worship or sacred functions.

Burial ground

A site used for burials, including tombs and cemeteries.

Post & lintel (Trabeated)

A basic construction system using vertical posts with a horizontal lintel across the top.

Arch & vault

Curved structures used to span spaces and support roofs; arch transfers weight sideways.

Corbel or cantilevered

A projecting element supported by one side only; corbelling creates overhangs.

Trussed

A framework of timbers or rods used to support a roof or other structure.

Engaged column

A column embedded in a wall and not free-standing.

Baluster

A small vertical ornamented post on a railing or parapet.

Caryatid

A sculpted female figure serving as a supporting column.

Canéphorae (Canepforae)

Female figures with baskets on their heads used as architectural supports.

Atlas / Atlantes

Male figures in a kneeling position supporting a world or structure.

Telamon / Telamones

Male figures standing in place of a column to support weight.

Anta column

A pilaster or thickened end of a wall forming a half-column.

Doric order

The simplest, oldest classical column design, sturdy and heavy.

Ionic order

A classical order with more slender, scroll-like capitals.

Corinthian order

The most elaborate classical order with ornate capitals.

Composite order

Roman elaboration combining Ionic and Corinthian elements.

Tuscan order

A simple Roman derivative of Doric with a plain shaft.

Superimposition (supercolumnation)

Placing one architectural order above another.

Intercolumnation

The spacing between adjacent columns, typically measured at the base.

Arcade

A sequence of arches supported by columns or piers.

Entasis

A slight swelling of a column shaft to counteract optical illusion.

Single entasis

One instance of shaft swelling along a column.

Double entasis

Two successive swellings along a column shaft.

Hypostyle hall

A large hall with many columns supporting the roof.

Pylon

A massive gateway or monumental entry to a temple.

Oasis of the Egyptian temple—Avenue of Sphinx

A procession path flanked by sphinx statues leading to a temple.

Mastaba

A flat-topped, rectangular tomb with underground burial chambers.

Serdab

Underground chamber in a mastaba containing the statue of the deceased.

Sarcophagus

A stone coffin for the deceased.

Stele

A vertical stone slab inscribed with texts or reliefs.

Rock-cut tomb

Tomb carved into rock faces or cliff sides.

Pyramid

A monumental tomb with sides converging to a point, built for pharaohs.

Step pyramid

The earliest pyramid form, created by stacking mastaba-like layers.

Bent pyramid

A pyramid with two slopes at different angles due to design challenges.

Slope pyramid

A pyramid with a single uniform slope from base to apex.

Great Pyramid of Giza (Khufu/Cheops)

The largest pyramid at Giza; one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Khafre (Khafra)

Second-largest Giza pyramid; often associated with the Great Sphinx.

Menkaure (Mykerinos)

Smallest of the three main pyramids at Giza.

Rock-hewn tomb / Rock-cut tomb

Tomb carved directly into the rock, as in Thebes.

Hypostyle temple

A temple with a roof supported by a forest of columns.

Pylon (Egyptian temple gateway)

Massive gateway with sloping sides leading into a temple complex.

Temple of Abu Simbel

Rock-cut temple complex commanded by Ramesses II.

Temple of Ammon (Karnak)

Grand temple complex at Thebes dedicated to Amun; part of a major temple complex.

Temple of Hatshepsut

Funerary temple of Queen Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari.

Temple of Hathor

Temple dedicated to the goddess Hathor (Dendera or others).

Temple of Luxor

Important temple complex at Thebes along the Nile.

Temple of Amun-Ra

Main temple complex at Karnak dedicated to Amun-Ra.

Temple of Osiris / Horus / Isis

Egyptian temples dedicated to major gods (Osiris, Horus, Isis).

Obelisk

A tall, four-sided tapering monument with a pyramidion at the top; sun symbol.

Sphinx (Andro-sphinx, criosphinx)

Mythical creature with a lion body and human or animal head; iconic in Egypt.

Great Hypostyle Hall

Massive hall in Karnak filled with columns, roofed by stone arches.

Beher: Pharaoh mummification

The ancient Egyptian process of preserving the dead for the afterlife.

Hieroglyphics

Ancient Egyptian writing system using pictorial symbols.

Lotus, Papyrus, Palm ornament

Symbolic motifs used in Egyptian decoration and architecture.

Bud capital

Capital shaped like a bud of a lotus/papyrus plant.

Bell capital

Capital with a bell-like profile on top of the column.

Hathor capital

A capital featuring an animal head (often cow) or animal-like form for Hathor.

Papyrus capital

Capital incorporating the papyrus plant motif.

Rosy: Volute capital

A capital with a spiraling scroll design ( resembles a scroll ).

Composite capital

Capital combining Ionic and Corinthian elements.

Osiris pillars

Vertical supports associated with Osiris imagery or symbolism.

Tor us moulding

A torus-shaped moulding used to cover transitions or edges.

Mouldings (ornaments)

Decorative mouldings like lotus, papyrus, palm motifs used in Egyptian temples.

Hieroglyphics with Hathor columns

Decorative arrangement combining hieroglyphic inscriptions with Hathor-column ornament.