Exam 3 - Rome and Byzantium (Google Doc) Flashcards
Archaic Smile
The Archaic smile was used by Greek Archaic sculptors, especially in the second quarter of the 6th century BCE, possibly to suggest that their subject was alive, and infused with a sense of well-being.
Verism
A form of realism in art or literature (they wanted to be recognizable)- Cicero Portrait
Patrician/ Plebian
Patricians were the land-owning aristocrats, and plebians were the poorer classes.
Peitas
The Roman virtue of dutiful respect toward the gods, fatherland and parents.
Coffering
A series of sunken panels in the shape of a square, rectangle or octagon in a ceiling or vault. (waffle pattern) example: Pantheon, Rome
Barrel Vault
A vault forming a half cylinder
Apotheosis/ Deification
Elevation of someone to divine status.
Stoicism
Philosophy that the wise live in harmony with the divine Reason and are indifferent to pleasure and pain.
Pax Romana
The peace that existed between nationalities within the Roman Empire.
Gladiator
A man trained to fight against other men or animals in an arena.
Fresco
A painting done in watercolor on wet plaster on a wall/ceiling so that the colors become part of the plaster and are fixed as it dries.
Insulae
Tenements with shops on the ground floor and living quarters above. (often collapsed)
Atrium
Open-roofed entrance, or central court in a Roman house.
Triclinium
Dining table with couches along three sides.
Porphyry
A hard rock, typically reddish. Used for the sculpture of Diocletian and the Tetrarchy.
Spolia
The repurposing of building materials, or reuse of decorative sculpture on new monuments, such as the Arch of Constantine.
Iconography
The visual images/symbols used in a work or art.
Mosaic
A picture/pattern produced by arranging together small colored pieces of stone, tile, or glass.
Tesserae
The small pieces of stone or glass that make up a mosaic.
Aqueduct
A man-made channel for transporting water. Often in the form of a bridge supported by tall columns across a valley.
Catacomb
An underground cemetery containing recesses for tombs.
Mystery Religion
Only open to members, often promised better afterlife, examples of who they worshipped include Mithras, Isis and Horus, and Dionysus.
Basilica
Large rectangular building with an apse at one or both ends.
Nave: Center room, symbolic of Noah’s ark. Usually flanked by aisles.
Apse: Rounded extension at the end of a basilica. (looks like a triumphal arch)
Transept: The arm of the Latin cross church perpendicular to the nave.
Clerestory: The topmost zone of the wall of a basilica.
Narthex: The entrance hall of a Christian basilica.
Atrium: Open roofed, kind of like large courtyard.
Nave
Center room, symbolic of Noah’s ark. Usually flanked by aisles.
Apse
Rounded extension at the end of a basilica. (looks like a triumphal arch)
Transept
The arm of the Latin cross church perpendicular to the nave.
Clerestory
The topmost zone of the wall of a basilica.
Narthex
The entrance hall of a Christian basilica.
Atrium
Open roofed, kind of like large courtyard.
Confessor
A person who will be faithful in the face of opposition, but doesn’t suffer martyrdom
Icon
“image”, typically religious images.
Iconoclasm
The idea, practice, or doctrine of an iconoclast to destroy or ban religious images and their veneration.
Dome
A rounded vault forming the roof of a structure, typically has a circular base.
Spandrel
Areas between the arches of an arcade.
Add to dictionary
Triangular curving vault section that supports a dome over a square space
Squinch
A straight or arched structure to carry a dome.
Elevation
Height above given level.
Basket Capital
Capital of Byzantine style with interlacing like a basket.
Chi-rho
Early Christian symbol. (P covered by an X)
Orator
a public speaker, especially one who is eloquent or skilled
Triumphal Arch
triumphal arch built after military successes (ex: Arch of Titus, Arch of Constantine)
