AP Art History Early Medieval Art

Abbey

A religious complex where monks or nuns live, work, and worship.

Apocalypse

The final book of the Christian Bible describing God defeating evil and saving the righteous.

Animal style

A medieval art style using intertwined, stylized animals, often shown fighting.

Art of the Migration / Migration Period Art

Art created by Germanic tribes (300–900 CE), known for animal style and colorful metalwork.

Basilica

A long, rectangular building with a nave, aisles, and apse; used in Roman times and adopted for Christian churches.

Basilica-plan

A church layout modeled on a Roman basilica, with a long nave leading to an apse.

Barrel vault

A tunnel-like vault formed by extending an arch.

Carpet page

A manuscript page completely filled with decorative geometric patterns.

Catacomb

An underground burial passageway.

Cathedral

A major Christian church that contains a bishop’s seat (cathedra).

Chasing

Metal decoration made by hammering designs into a surface.

Church

A Christian place of worship managed by priests; smaller than a cathedral.

Cloisonné

Metalwork technique where thin metal strips separate areas filled with colored enamel.

Codex

A manuscript in bound book form (not a scroll).

Colophon

A note at the end of a manuscript giving information about the author or production.

Central plan

A round, polygonal, or symmetrical church layout with the altar at the center.

Cubicula

Small rooms in catacombs used as family burial chapels; can also mean Roman bedrooms in houses.

Drum

A circular or polygonal wall under a dome, raising it higher.

Embroidery

Stitching decorative designs into fabric.

Encaustic

Painting technique using heated, colored wax fused to a surface.

Eucharist

The Christian ritual reenacting the Last Supper, where bread and wine represent Christ’s body and blood.

Fibula

A metal garment clasp or brooch.

Genesis

The first book of the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament.

Horror vacui

“Fear of empty space” — filling the entire surface with details or design.

Icon

A painted image of a holy figure used for devotion.

Impost block

A block above a column capital from which an arch springs.

Incipit

Latin for “it begins”; the opening words of a text or manuscript.

Interlacing

Decorative weaving or knotting of lines typical in early Medieval art.

Lunette

A crescent-shaped wall space often containing sculpture or painting.

Jamb column

The vertical supports on either side of a church portal.

Jamb figure

Carved statues attached to jamb columns.

Keystone

The central, topmost stone of an arch that locks the arch in place.

Lancet window

A tall, narrow, pointed window common in Gothic architecture.

Mandorla

An almond-shaped aura around holy figures, especially Christ.

Martyrium

A shrine marking where a martyr was killed or buried.

Marian Devotion

Prayers or acts honoring the Virgin Mary.

Monasticism

A religious lifestyle where monks withdraw from worldly life for spiritual devotion.

Moralized Bible

A French medieval Bible pairing biblical scenes with commentary and moral lessons through images.

Orant figure

A figure shown praying with hands raised.

Pendentive

A curved triangular support allowing a round dome to sit on a square base.

Relic

A sacred object connected to a holy person.

Reliquary

A decorated container that houses a relic.

Rib vault

A vault strengthened by intersecting ribs (quadripartite = four ribs).

Sancta Camisa

Mary’s sacred tunic, believed to have been worn at Christ’s birth.

Scriptorium

A room in a monastery where manuscripts were copied.

Sedes Sapientae

“Throne of Wisdom” — Mary shown seated with Christ child on her lap.

Square Schematism

A design system where church proportions are based on the dimensions of the crossing square.

Squinch

An architectural support bridging a square room to an octagonal base for a dome.

Theotokos

Greek for “Mother of God”; artworks dedicated to or depicting Mary with Christ.

Vault

An arched ceiling formed by arches.

Groin vault

Created by intersecting two barrel vaults.

Vellum

Fine parchment made from calfskin.

Voussoirs

The wedge-shaped stones forming an arch (not including the keystone).

CHRISTIAN CHURCH ARCHITECTURE TERMS

Ambulatory

A walkway around the apse, often used by pilgrims.

Apse

A semicircular area at the end of a church containing the altar.

Bay

A vertical unit of space in a church marked by columns, arches, or windows.

Crossing square

The square formed where the nave and transept intersect; used to set church proportions.

Clerestory

Upper wall section with windows that let light into the nave.

Gallery

A second-story space above the side aisles, sometimes reserved for women.

Nave

The central aisle where the congregation sits or stands.

Narthex

An entry hall or vestibule at the western end of a church.

Portal

The decorated main entrance to a church.

Radiating chapels

Small chapels projecting from the apse or transept for displaying relics.

Rose window

Large circular stained-glass window, usually on the façade or transept.

Side aisle

Walkways flanking the nave, helping people move around the church.

Transept

The horizontal arm of the cross-shaped basilica plan that intersects the nave.

Tympanum

The semicircular sculpture-filled space above a church portal.

Westwork

The monumental western façade with two towers flanking the entrance.