Architecture Flashcards
abacus
a flat slab forming the uppermost member or division of the capital of a column, above the bell
acanthus
a stylized ornamental motif based on a characteristic Mediterranean plant with jagged leaves
agora
an open space that served as a meeting ground for various activities of the citizens
architrave
a horizontal beam that rests directly on the top of a row of columns
base
architectural element on which a column or pier rests
bouleuterion
the town hall of an ancient town or city
capital
crowning member of a column, pier, anta, pilaster, or other columnar form, providing a structural support for the horizontal member (entablature) or arch above
cella
the body of a temple (as distinct from the portico) in which the image of the deity is housed
column
a vertical element with a rounded, squared or polygonal shaft, a capital and a base
cornice
the decorated projection at the top of a wall provided to protect the wall face or to ornament and finish the eaves
dentil
a small tooth-shaped block used as a repeating ornament in the bedmould of a cornice
drum
any of the cylindrical stone blocks composing a column that is not a monolith
echinus
one of grooves of the the ‘necking’, which is the upper continuation of the shaft of the column
entablature
a horizontal part in classical architecture that rests on the columns and consists of architrave, frieze, and cornice
entasis
the convex curve given to a column, spire, or similar upright member,
fascia
the panelling that runs just beneath the edge of the roof of a building
flute
shallow grooves running along a surface
frieze
a long and narrow sculptural band that runs along the middle of an entablature
Hellenistic
focuses on theatricality, drama, and the experience of the viewer
hippodrome
a stadium-like structure used for horse racing and chariot racing
hypostyle
a building having rows of columns supporting its roof
mausoleum
an above ground free-standing structure that have crypts or burial compartments to hold whole human remains
metope
a rectangular architectural element that fills the space between two triglyphs in a Doric frieze
naos
A shrine, usually monolithic, in which the image of an Egyptian deity was kept, especially in temple sanctuaries
opisthodomos
A porch at the rear of a temple, set against the blank back wall of the cella.
palaestra
a rectangular court surrounded by colonnades with adjoining rooms
pediment
triangular gable forming the end of the roof slope over a portico
peristyle
a continuous porch formed by a row of columns surrounding the perimeter of a building
petrification
when the organic matter is completely replaced by minerals and the fossil is turned to stone
pronaos
the outer part of an ancient Greek temple forming a portico immediately in front of the cella
propylon
a dignified entrance between columns to a sanctuary
rosette
a round, stylized flower design
scotia
a concave molding used especially in classical architecture in the bases of columns
shaft
a long, narrow, vertical cylinder that in some orders is articulated with fluting
stereobate
the foundation or base upon which a building or the like is erected
stylobate
is the top step of the crepidoma,
tholos
a form of building with a round structure with a circular wall and a roof,
trabeated
a term used in architecture to describe the use of post and lintel construction
triglyph
the vertically channeled tablets of the Doric frieze
volute
a spiral scroll-like ornament that forms the basis of the Ionic order
torus
a large convex molding commonly forming the lowest molding of the base of a column
forecourt
a courtyard at the front of a building
kerb
the edge where a raised sidewalk or road median/central reservation meets a street or other roadway
peristalith
a four-sided porch or hallway of columns surrounding the cella
dolmen
a type of single-chamber megalithic tomb, usually consisting of two or more upright megaliths supporting a large flat horizontal capstone or “table”
orthostat
An upright stone or slab forming part of a structure or set in the ground
menhir
A tall upright stone of a kind erected in western Europe
trilithon
a structure consisting of two large vertical stones (posts) supporting a third stone set horizontally across the top (lintel)
port hole slab
a circular hole, often forming the entrance to a megalithic chamber tomb
portal stone
an opening in a wall of a building
petroform
shapes and geometrical patterns made from arranging large rocks and boulders
megalith
a large stone that has been used to construct a prehistoric structure or monument
petroglyph
an image created by removing part of a rock surface by incising, picking, carving, or abrading, as a form of rock art
capstone
a finishing stone atop an exterior wall or roof
cycolith
a harmonious mix of white cubic houses, cobblestone streets, pristine windmills, and ubiquitous blue-domed churches
alignment
designing architectures at the infrastructure, application, and business levels such that each fits optimally with the other architectures
taula
a traditional Indian system of architecture which literally translates to “science of architecture”
