Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

► Art History > Greek Vocab > Flashcards

Greek Vocab Flashcards

1
Q

Abacus

A

Flat slab on top of capital

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Acropolis

A

Ancient citadel at highest place

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Acroteria

A

Ornament at corner or peak of roof

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Adyton

A

Back room of Greek temple

Very private space/room

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Agora

A

Open space in town used as central gathering place or market

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Amphora

A

Jar used for storing oil/wine

Egg shaped body and 2 curves handles

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Amphiprostyle

A

A building (temple) with porticoes at each end but without columns along other 2 sides

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Architrave

A

Bottom element of entablature, beneath frieze and cornice

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Astragal

A

Thin convex decorative molding

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Black figure

A

Pottery technique where black figures are painted in red clay background

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Capital

A

Top block

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Caryatid

A

Sculpture of draped female figures as column supporting entablature

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Cella

A

Principal interior room at center

Aka naos

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Contrapposto

A

Used to describe twisted pose resulting from parts of body set in opposition to each other around central axis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Cornice

A

Uppermost section of entablature

Horizontally projecting element found on top of building

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Echinus

A

Cushionlike circular element below abacus of Doric element

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Entablature

A

Horizontal element above columns and capitals

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Entasis

A

Slight swelling of shaft of column

Makes it appear straight from afar

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Facade

A

Face or front wall of building

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Fillet

A

Flat ridge between carved out flute of column shaft

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Foreshortening

A

Illusion created on flat surface when figures appear to recede or project sharply into space

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Frieze

A

Middle element of entablature

Usually decorated with sculpture

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

In antis

A

Term used to describe position of columns set between 2 walls

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Kore

A

Archaic Greek statue of young woman

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

Kouros

A

Archaic Greek statue of young man or boy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

Krater

A

Vessel used for mixing water and wine

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

Kylix

A

Vessel/cup used for drinking

Wide mouth and small handles near rim

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

Peristyle

A

Surrounded by columns

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

Pillar

A

Large, freestanding vertical element

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

Portico

A

Projecting roof or porch supported by columns

31
Q

Pronaos

A

Enclosed vestibule of temple, found in front of cella and marked by row of columns at entrance

32
Q

Red figure

A

Technique of red clay-colored figures on black blackground

33
Q

Sanctuaries

A

Sacred or holy enclosure used for worship

34
Q

Slip

A

mixture of water and clay applied to ceramic object as final decorative coat

35
Q

Stele

A

large stone slab

36
Q

Stereobate

A

Foundation that temple stands on

37
Q

Stoa

A

Long roofed walkway having columns on one long side and wall on other

38
Q

Stylobate

A

Stone foundation that colonnade stands on

39
Q

Stylus

A

Instrument with pointed end

40
Q

Terra-cotta

A

Medium made from clay fired over low heat and sometimes left unglazed

41
Q

Tholos

A

Small, round building

42
Q

Triglyph

A

Rectangular block between metopes of Doric frieze

43
Q

White ground

A

Background color of object painted with slip that turns white during firing

44
Q

Volute

A

Spiral scroll (Ionic capital)

45
Q

Lekythos

A

Slim oil vase with one handle and narrow mouth

46
Q

Metope

A

Carved or painted rectangular panel between triglyphs of Doric frieze

47
Q

Naos

A

BASICALLY A CELLA

48
Q

Olpe

A

Any vase/jug without a spout

49
Q

Pediment

A

Triangular gable on entablature

50
Q

Peripteral

A

Any building/room surrounded by columns

51
Q

Acanthus

A

One of the most common plant forms to make foliage ornament and decoration

52
Q

Anta

A

Posts/pillars on either side of doorway or entrance of Greek temple

53
Q

Corinthian

A

Most ornate of the 3 Greek orders

Has acanthus and small volute, fluted

54
Q

Doric

A

Most simple of the 3 Greek orders

No base, fluted

55
Q

Ionic

A

The middle between the 3 Greek orders

Fluted, has volute

56
Q

Fluted necking

A

Curved indentations on a column

57
Q

Polis

58
Q

Propylon

A

Any monumental gateway

based on entrance to Acropolis on Athens

59
Q

S-curve

A

Where figure’s body and posture is depicted like the letter “S”

60
Q

Stadium

A

Venue for outdoor events

61
Q

Treasuries

A

Place where currency or special items were stored, usually built inside temples

62
Q

Lost wax process

A

A method of casting metal by a process in which a wax mold is covered with clay and plaster, then fired, melting the wax and leaving a hollow form. Molten metal is then poured into the hollow space and slowly cooled. When the hardened clay and plaster exterior shell is removed, a solid metal form remains

63
Q

Oinochoe

A

Wine jug with curved handle and round mouth

64
Q

Opisthodomos

A

Small room in the cella of a temple

65
Q

Orthogonal city plan

A

Plan for a building or city that is based on right angles

66
Q

Aphrodite

A

Goddess of love

67
Q

Poseidon

A

God of the sea, holding 3-pronged spear

68
Q

Demeter

A

Goddess of grain and agriculture

69
Q

Zeus

A

Supreme God, holds scepter and lightning bolt

70
Q

Dionysos

A

God of wine, grape harvest, inspiration

71
Q

Athena

A

Goddess of wisdom, war, virginity, victory

72
Q

Persephone

A

Goddess of fertility, queen of the underworld

73
Q

Apollo

A

God of sun, light, truth, and music

74
Q

Eros

A

Young child or infant of god of love

► Art History (41 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions