APAH: Unit 3 Terms

codex

book with vellum pages

conitnuous narrative

a type of narrative that illustrates multiple scenes of a narrative within a single frame; ex Column of Trajan

encaustic

painting technique that uses wax as a medium to carry color

icon

Greek for image or painting

iconoclasm

destruction of icons

spandrel

triangular space between columns

martyrium

burial place of a martyr

pendentive

triangular segment of a spherical surface used to hold up a dome

squnich

triangular corner that supports a dome

theotokus

Mary as the “God-bearer”

XP (chi ro)

Greek word for Christ

ambulatory

aisle or walkway around a Church used mainly so pilgrims could visit relics without entering the nave during mass

apse

semicircular recess usually behind the altar

atrium

area of a cathedral before you enter

axial plan

architectural plan in which a church is organized along an axis; has a nave

basilica

large oblong hall or building with colonnades and a semiciruclar apse used in ancient Rome as law courts or for public assemblies; later repurposed by Christians as churches

catacomb

underground cemetary consisting of a subterranean gallery with recesses (loculi) for tombs; usually constructed by ancient Romans

central plan

round church with a central altar (ex. San Vitale)

clerestory

upper part of the nave & transept of a church/basilica containing a series of windows to admit light into the building; light = God

coffer

series of rectangular sunken panels on a dome acting as supports and decreasing the weight of the dome (seen in the Pantheon)

cubicula

chapels (for families); seen in Catacomb of Priscilla

loculi

indentions in a wall; seen in Catacomb of Priscilla

lunette

image over an arch (seen in Catacomb of Priscilla, female priest)

narthex

transitional antechamber of a church/basilica between the atrium and nave

nave

long part in the middle of a building/basilica

orant figure

figure in a prayer pose (ex. woman in Catacomb of Priscilla)

spolia

“spoils”; part of a work taken from another place & used in Christian Churches; ex. columns at Santa Sabina & head of reliquary of St. Foy

transept

parts of a church forming the arms of the cross shape

fibulae

decorative clasp used to secure a cloak & display wealth (buried with people)

tympanum

arching area over a door in a Romanesque Cathedral carved with biblical stories (ex. Last Judgment at Cathedral of St. Foy)

tracery

decorative stonework used to secure stained glass

reliquary

beautifully decorated receptical used to hold the bones or remains of Saint’s possessions (ex. St. Foy)

horror vacui

practice of filling all spaces with carving work (ex. Last Judgement Tympanum or Ludovisi Battle Sarcophagus)

barrel vault

rounded arch ceiling which held the roof by pushing the weight onto thick walls

rose window

large round windows filled with stained glass usually at the ends of a nave or transept (seen at Chartres Cathedral)

rib vault

type of vaulted celining that used sections of stone across to reinforce it

flying buttresses

slanting structure projecting from a wall used to strengthen it

groin vault

vault produced by the intersection of two barrel vaults at a right angle