Early Christian and Byzantine Architecture

Question 1

A decorative architectural frame; usually found around a niche; door; or window.

Answer 1

Aedicule

Question 2

A passageway around the apse or altar of a church.

Answer 2

Ambulatory

Question 3

a vault rising from two walls that are circular in plan (as above the walls of an ambulatory) ??

Answer 3

Annular Vault

Question 4

A recess; usually semicircular; in the wall of a building; commonly found at the east end of a church.

Answer 4

Apse

Question 5

An unroofed interior courtyard or room in a Roman house; sometimes having a pool or garden; sometimes surrounded by columns

Answer 5

Atrium

Question 6

A canopy placed over an honorific or sacred space such as a throne or church altar

Answer 6

Baldachin

Question 7

In Christian architecture; a church somewhat resembling the Roman basilica; usually entered from one end and with an apse at the other.

Answer 7

Basilica

Question 8

The fenestrated part of a building that rises above the roofs of the other parts. In Roman basilicas and medieval churches; the windows that form the nave’s uppermost level below the timber ceiling or the vaults.

Answer 8

Clerestory

Question 9

the intersection of nave and transept in a cruciform church

Answer 9

crossing

Question 10

a subterranean chamber or vault; especially one beneath the main floor of a church; used as a burial place; a location for secret meetings; etc.

Answer 10

Crypt

Question 11

A second story over the side aisles of a church below the clerestory

Answer 11

Gallery

Question 12

a floor plan with four arms of equal length and at right angles.

Answer 12

Greek Cross

Question 13

the design of a Christian basilca with a long arms and 3 shorter arms

Answer 13

Latin Cross

Question 14

A building containing crypts or vaults for entombment; an above ground structure for burial.

Answer 14

Mausoleum

Question 15

A vestibule leading to the nave of a church

Answer 15

Narthex

Question 16

The principal longitudinal area of a church; extending from the main entrance or narthex to the chancel; usually flanked by aisles of less height and breadth: generally used only by the congregation.

Answer 16

nave

Question 17

A square pillar

Answer 17

pier

Question 18

A construction shaped like a triangle that transitions the space between flat walls and the base of a round dome (think Squinch!)

Answer 18

pendentive

Question 19

round center of a stain glass window; A circular painting or relief sculpture

Answer 19

roundel

Question 20

half a dome; especially as formed by a vertical section; as over a semicircular apse.

Answer 20

semidomes

Question 21

Passage or open corridor of a basilica; church; hall; or other building that parallels the main space; usually on both sides; and is delineated by a row; or arcade; of columns or piers.

Answer 21

side aisles

Question 22

the roughly triangular space enclosed by the curves of adjacent arches and a horizontal member connecting their vertexes

Answer 22

spandrels

Question 23

what we do when we see “dat apse!”

Answer 23

squinch

Question 24

War plunder; like stone from temples; used to construct new buildings. Most early christian buildings were made of this.

Answer 24

spolia

Question 25

The part of a church with an axis that crosses the nave at a right angle.

Answer 25

Transept