A

acanthus:A Mediterranean plant. The leaves are thick, fleshy, and scalloped. A stylization of the acanthus leaf was often used in ancient decoration, especially the Corinthian capital altar. In the Roman Church, a table at which the celebration of the Eucharist takes place. It is placed in a prominent place in the church, usually in the choir facing the main entrance to the church. alternation of supports: A system of supports for the arcade in which there are two different types of support. The alternation may be quite obvious between one pier (strong support) and one column (weak support), or the alternation may exist only in slight differences in the shafting on each pier. See also: column, pier, arcade, colonnade applied or engaged capital: A capital which is attached to the wall so that only half of the form projects from the wall See also: column aspe. An extension or projection from a building, generally circular or polygonal arcade: A series of arches supported by columns or piers Contrast with colonnade See also blind arcade, column, pier, spandrel architrave: The lintel or flat horizontal member which spans the space between the columns; in classical architecture, the lowest member of an entablature. archivolt: Needs definition See also : jamb, tympanum atrium: An open courtyard at the west end of a building, usually surrounded by covered aisles. The atrium of the Early Christian church was originally a place for the catechumens to wait during the celebration of the Eucharist.

B

baptismal font: A receptacle for water, used for baptismal Early Christian baptism took place by total immersion, so the baptismal font was large and generally built into the floor of a separate building. Later, particularly in northern Europe, child baptism replaced adult baptism so the font could be made smaller and was usually placed in the church building itself barrel vault or tunnel vault: The simplest form of a vault, consisting of a continuous surface of semicircular or pointed sections. It resembles a barrel or tunnel which has been cut in half lengthwise Compare with: groin vault Types of barrel vault: longitudinal, transverse bay: A unit of interior space in a building, marked off by architectural divisions blind arcade: A row of decorative arches which looks like an arcade but is attached to a wall surface and has no real openings. See also arcade, spandrel engaged column blind arch: An arch which encloses an opening in a wall which may appear to be a window but which is actually only a shallow indentation in the wall Compare with blind arcade, relieving arch block, cushion, or cubic capital: A very simple cube-like capital with bottom comers tapered. The block capital is particularly characteristic of Ottonian and Romanesque Germany and England See also capital, column Other types of capital: Corinthian, crocket, foliate, historiated, Ionic

C

campanile: Italian name for a bell tower, usually one that is detached from the main building. capital: Decorative element that divides a column or pier from the masonry which it supports See also column, pier, shaft, column base, abacus Types of capital: Corinthian, crocket, cushion, foliate, historiated, Ionic centrally-planned building: A building in which the sides are of equal length and in which the main space is symmetrical when bisected laterally and longitudinally. A centrally-planned building may be square, circular, or polygonal. The most important feature of a centrally-planned building is the open space at the center of the building, developed around a vertical axis, Contrast with longitudinally-planned building cinqfoil: A five-lobed ornamental shape Compare with trefoil, quatrefoil chalice a cup on a stem, used to contain the ecuharistic wine; same shape was also used in a secular context See also paten, pyx chapter house: A meeting place for the chapter or governing body of a monastery or a cathedral. Other parts of monastery: cloister, refectory, scriptorium choir screen: A screen, made of wood or stone, usually decorated with painting or sculpture, which separates the choir from the rest of the church See also choir cloister: Part of a monastery; a quadrangle-le surrounded by covered passages. It connects the domestic parts of the monastery with the church. Usually located on the south side of the church. coffers: The sunken area created between the crossing of structural members. They are often the focus of decoration and serve also to lighten the weight of the structure colonnade: A row of columns which support horizontal members, called an architrave, rather than arches Contrast with arcade See also column, pier, architrave column: A cylindrical support, usually structural but often decorative Parts of a column: abacus, capital, shaft, column base See also engaged column, colonnade ,arcade Compare with pier column base Needs definition See also column, pier, shaft, capital, abacus composite pier: A pier that is composed not of a single member but has shafts, half-columns, or pilaster strips attached to it. See also: pier, alternation of support Other types of piers: drum confessio: A type of crypt which consists of a series of linked passages Other types of crypt: hall crypt See also: crypt corbel:A projection from a wall which sometimes supports (or appears to support) a structural member such as a shaft. Corinthian capital: A capital used originally by the Greeks in a system of supports called the Corinthian order. The Corinthian capital was developed further in Roman times and used often in the medieval period, again, without strict adherence to the rest of the system. The Corinthian capital is more ornate than the Ionic. It is decorated with 3 superimposed rows of carved foliage (acanthus leaves) around the capital. At the comers of the capital there are small volutes. The Corinthian capital is essentially the same from all sides. Adaptations of the Corinthian capital are common in the Middle Ages. See also capital, column, acanthus Other types of capital: cushion, crocket, foliate, historiated, Ionic crocket capital: A simplified adaptation of the Corinthian capital. The crocket capital was commonly used in the Gothic period. See also capital, column Other types of capital: Corinthian, cushion, foliate, historiated, Ionic cross section Needs definition compare with ground plan crozier: A staff carried by a bishop, archbishop, abbot or abbess. It is in the shape of a shepherd's crook, and has symbolic significance connected with the New Testament idea of Christ as shepherd of a flock. The crook and staff of the crozier may be heavily decorated. crypt:An underground chamber for relics or tombs Types of crypt: confessio, hall crypt cusp:A curved, triangular-shaped projection from the inner curve of an arch or circle

D

depressed arch: A flattened arch, slightly pointed on top. It appears in Late Gothic of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. Other types of arches: horseshoe, ogee diagonal ribs: The moldings which mark the diagonals in a rib vault Other types of ribs: lierne, ridge, tierceron, transverse See also rib vault. dome:A hemispherical vault drum: A cylindrical wall which supports a dome. drum pier: Find definition See also: pier, alternation of support Other types of piers: composite

E

east end: Refers to the end of the church where the main altar is placed and where the main part of the service takes place. Generally, medieval churches were oriented toward the east. However, topography of the land or other factors may have prevented an absolute east- west orientation for a church. The term east end, is generally used to describe the area where the main altar is placed in a medieval church, even in those cases where the church is not oriented exactly toward the east. Some buildings, notably Old Saint Peter's in Rome, were oriented to the west. Contrast with west end Ecclesia (personification of church) and Synagoga (Personification of Judaism): both appear as female figures, Ecclesia crowned and holding a chalice and Synagogo with tablets of law and blindfolded

F

facade:The front or face of a building, generally an area of the exterior that contains an entrance. Some medieval buildings have a main facade or western facade and additional north and south facades at the ends of the transepts when there are major entrance ways at these locations See also west end fan vault: A vault which consists of fan-shaped half cones which usually meet at the center of a vault. See also: rib vault Other types of rib vaults: net, quadripartite, sexpartite, crazy fleur-de-lis Stylized lily which served as symbol for the French monarchy fluting: Shallow, concave grooves running vertically on a column, pilaster, or other surface See also: column, shaft, pier, pilaster foliate capital : Needs definition See also capital, column, Other types of capital: Corinthian, cushion, crocket, historiated, Ionic

G

Greek cross: A cross with four arms of equal length Compare with Latin cross. groin vault: A vault produced by the intersection at right angles of two barrel (tunnel) vaults.(4B) groin vault: A vault produced by the intersection at right angles of two barrel vaults. Sometimes the arches of groin vaults may be pointed instead of round. See also: barrel vault ground plan or floor plan: Horizontal cross-section of a building as the building would look at ground level. A ground plan shows the basic outlined shape of a building and, usually, the outlines of other interior and exterior features. Compare with cross section

H

hall crypt: A crypt in the form of a large space of uniform height, subdivided by columns Other types of crypt: confessio See also: crypt hanging arch: An arch which has, or seems to have, no vertical supports hemicycle:The group of columns, arranged in a semicircular formation, that divide the east end of a choir from the ambulatory See also ambulatory, choir historiated or figured capital: A capital which is decorated with figures of animals, birds, or humans, used either alone or combined with foliage. The figures need not have any meaning, although they may be symbolic or part of a narrative sequence. Historiated capitals were most commonly used in the Romanesque from the late eleventh to mid-twelfth centuries See also capital, column, Other types of capital: Corinthian, cushion, crocket, foliate, Ionic horseshoe arch: An arch shaped like a horseshoe. It is found particularly in Spain or in buildings influenced by Spanish ones Other types of arches: ogee, depressed

I

infilling or webbing: The vault surface between the ribs of a rib vault Compare with rib interlace:A decorative motif consisting of threads passing aver and under each other like threads in lace intersecting arches: Arches which cross over each other. in an arcade See also: arcade, blind arcade Ionic capital: A capital used originally by the Greeks in a system of supports called the Ionic order. The Ionic order is based on a set of proportions and includes a particular kind of column base and lintel as well as capital. The order was also used by the Romans. In the medieval period, the capital was often used without a strict adherence to the rest of the system. An Ionic capital has a volute, or a spiral scroll-like carving, on each side as its major decoration. Ionic capitals are relatively rare in medieval buildings See also capital, column, Other types of capital: Corinthian, cushion, crocket, foliate, historiated

J

jamb: A vertical element of a doorway or window frame See also : trumeau, jamb figures jamb figures: Needs definition See also : jamb. trumeau figure

K

keystone: The voussoir at the top of an arch; in vaulting it occurs at the intersection of the ribs of a rib vault. It is important structurally since it marks the apex of the vault See also: voussoir, vault, rib vault, boss

L

Latin cross: A cross with three short arms and one long arm. Compare with Greek cross lantern: A small circular or polygonal structure, with windows all around the base, which opens above a larger tower or dome lesene: A pilaster without base or capital, also called a pilaster strip. pilaster or pilaster strip: A flat, projecting element of vertical masonry, as opposed to a circular shaft or half-column, attached to a wall or pier. (4A, 6A). Contrast with pilaster See also column, capital, base, lierne:A minor rib in a complex rib vault. Liemes do not spring from the main springers . Other types of ribs: diagonal, ridge, tierceron, transverse See also rib vault lintel: Flat horizontal beam which spans the space between two supports. MAS some as architrave???? loggia: An exterior gallery, open on one or more sides, with a colonnade or an arcade. longitudinal barrel vault: A barrel (or tunnel) vault which follows the main longitudinal direction of the nave. Usually when a vault is referred to simply as a barrel (or tunnel) vault, it may be assumed to be a longitudinal barrel vault. Other types of barrel vault: transverse See also: barrel vault, groin vault longitudinal ridge rib: A rib which runs down the apex of the vault in a longitudinal direction. Other types of ribs: diagonal, lierne, tierceron, transverse See also rib vault. longitudinally-planned building: A building developed along a horizontal axis Contrast with centrally-planned building lozenge: A diamond shape

M

mausoleum: Structure for a tomb. Compare with: sarcophagus, memorial brass memorial brass: Needs definition Compare with mausoleum, sarcophagus

N

narthex: A low projection at the western end of a church, like a porch. Although narthex is sometimes used synonymously with westwork, a narthex is usually more open and often has only one story in contrast to the more closed westwork with a large open chamber on the upper level. Generally a narthex is narrower than the width of the nave and aisles while the westwork is broader, but it is often difficult to distinguish a westwork from a narthex on plans or photographs. Compare with westwork, screen facade See also west end, facade net vault: A vault on which a complex of ribs gives a net-like appearance See also: rib vault Other types of rib vaults: rib, quadripartite, sexpartite, crazy niche:A recess in the thickness of a wall.

O

ogee arch or ogive: An arch with a pointed apex, formed by the intersection of two S curves usually confined to decoration and not used in arcade arches. Ogee arches were used only in the late Gothic period Other types of arches: depressed, horseshoe

P

paten: a plate on which the eucharistic wafer was placed See also chalice, pyx pediment:A triangular space above a window or entrance. Originally the triangular space was formed by the end of a gable roof and later was used decoratively pendant: A hanging architectural member formed by ribs. Not to be confused with pendentive Compare with pendentive Pendants ofthe appear in conjunction with fan vaults pendentive: A spherical triangle which acts as a transition between a circular dome and a square base on which the dome is set Contrast with squinch Do not confuse with pendent pier: An upright support, generally square, rectangular, or composite. In medieval architecture there are massive circular supports called drum piers. Compare with column, pilaster Types of pier: compound, drum See also: alternation of support pilaster:A true pilaster is a rectangular element of vertical masonry which projects only slightly from the wall and has both a capital and a base Contrast with column, pier, pilaster strip See also capital, base portal: Any doorway or entrance but especially one that is large and imposing. See also lintel, jamb, trumeau processional cross Large cross on a staff, carried in processions on feast days of various church holidays pyx: a small box with a lid to contain the consecrated host See also paten, chalice

Q

quadripartite rib vault: A rib vault which is divided into four sections. quadripartite rib vault: A rib vault which is divided into four sections by two diagonal ribs See also: rib vault Other types of rib vaults: net, fan, sexpartite, crazy quatrefoil: An ornamental form which has four lobes or foils. It may resemble a four-petaled flower Compare with trefoil, cinqfoil

R

refectory: Dining room in a monastery Other parts of monastery: chapter house, cloister, scriptorium retable: An altarpiece, decorated with painting or sculpture which stands at the back of an. altar rib: An arch of masonry, often molded, which forms part of the framework on which a vault rests. Ribs generally project from the undersurface of the vault Types of ribs: diagonal, transverse, ridge, tierceron, lierne Compare with webbing rib vault: A masonry vault with a relatively thin web and set within a framework of ribs Types of rib vaults: net, fan, quadripartite, sexpartite, crazy Compare with: barrel vault

S

sarcophagus: Needs definition Compare with mausoleum, memorial brass screen facade: Used here to refer to a facade which is so highly decorated with sculpture or other decorative elements that it acts as a screen placed in front of the facade. It may seem to hide the face of the building from view. Compare with westwork, narthex See also west end, facade scriptorium: area in a monastery where books and documents were written, copied, and illuminated Other parts of monastery: chapter house, cloister, refectory shaft: Needs definition See also column, pier, capital, column base, abacus segmented dome or cloister vault: A dome placed over a polygonal base. It is not a semi-sphere, but is formed of curved sections which correspond to the parts of the polygon on which it rests. Compare with squinch semi-dome: A half dome sexpartite rib vault: A rib vault which is divided into six sections. sexpartite rib vault: A rib vault whose surface is divided into six sections by three ribs See also: rib vault Other types of rib vaults: net, quadripartite, fan, crazy socle: Needs definition See also jamb figures, trumeau figure spandrel: The roughly triangular wall space between two adjacent arches See also arcade springer: Needs definition squinch: An arch, or a system of concentrically wider and gradually projecting arches, placed at the corners of a square base to act as the transition to a circular dome placed on the base. Contrast with pendentive stringcourse: A continuous projecting horizontal band set in the surface of a wall and usually molded

T

tabernacle: An ornamental structure, usually done in stone, which contains the Sacrament tierceron: A major rib in a complex rib vault Tiercerons spring from the main springers. Other types of ribs: diagonal, lierne, ridge, transverse See also rib vault, springer transverse arch: Supporting arch which runs across the vault from side to side, dividing the bays. it usually projects down from the surface of the vault transverse arch: The arch which runs across the vault to separate the bays. It usually stands out from the surface of the vault Compare with transverse rib transverse barrel vault: A vault in which each bay consists of a barrel or tunnel which is set at right angles to the main longitudinal direction of the nave. .(4B, 5B) transverse barrel vault: A barrel (or tunnel) vault whose component sections are set at right angles to the main longitudinal direction of the nave.(5B) Other types of barrel vault: longitudinal See also: barrel vault, groin vault transverse rib: The projecting bands which mark the transverse arches of a rib vault trefoil: An ornamental form which has three lobes or foils. Compare with cinqfoil, quatrefoil trumeau: Needs definition See also : trumeau figure trumeau figure: Needs definition See also : jamb figures, trumeau tympanum (plural, tympana): The basically semicircular area enclosed by the arch above the lintel of an arched entranceway. This area is often decorated with sculpture in the Romanesque and Gothic periods.

U

V

voussoir: One of the wedge-shaped stones used in constructing and arch

W

west end: The area of the church opposite the east end. The west end usually functions as the main entrance to the church. When one enters a church from the west end, the left side is the north side, and the right is the south side. Contrast with east end See also screen facade, westwork, narthex westwork (from German Westwerk): An entrance area at the west end of a church with upper chamber and usually with a tower or towers. It is normally broader than the width of the nave and aisles. Westwork is sometimes used synonymously with narthex Compare with narthex, screen facade See also west end, facade

X

Y

Z