Module 4 Flashcards
Catacombs
Early Christian cemeteries
Confraternities
Burial associations
Cubicula
Chambers in catacombs
Galleries
Passageways in catacombs
Loculi
Shelves where the dead were placed in catacombs
Medallion
Circular frame
Lunette
Semicircular frame
Orants
Figrures with their arms raised in a gesture of prayer
Prefiguration
Earlier version. Jonah was a prefiguration of Christ.
Catacomb of Priscillla
Young, beardless Christ, Old Testament account of three men thrown in fire by Nebuchadnezzar, fish commonly used to represent Jesus Christ and religion. Buried underground. Land donated by a wealthy lady Priscilla, first to her family, the extends to other Christians. Contains Good Shephard fresco, orant frescoes, and Greek Chapel.
Why was sculpture uncommon in Christianity?
They did not want to be confused with pagan religions, cults, carved idols, and architectural sculptures.
Old Saint Peter’s
Built by Constantine starting in 319. Replaced with Santa Sabina 100 years later.
Nave
Central walkway in a basilica
Apse
Where the alter was located in a church
Side Aisles
Aisles on each side of the nave and seating
Transept
A horizontally-intersecting aisle that intersected the nave before the apse
Relics
Objects of religious importance; important in early Christianity
Atrium
Opening; roof is open
Narthex
Entrance hall before the church
Spolia
Recycled or repurposed building materials
Baldacchino
Large 4-columned canopy. One stands over the tomb of Saint Peter
Santa Sabina
Replaced Saint Peter’s with a more modern basilica. Contains clerestory windows, marble columns on the lower floor, a painted apse ceiling. Light used as symbol of divinity and removes weight. Simple brick exterior.
Central-Plan
Parts of the building are equidistant from a central point.
Ambulatory
Side aisle on a central-plan church
Blind Arcade
Arches over a solid background
Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
ca. 425, brick building using blind arcades and combing the basilica and central-plan layouts. Christ as the Good Shephard with a hat, cross, and 6 sheep.
Folios
Sheets
Vellum
Calfskin
Parchment
Lambskin
Codex
Like a book
Illuminated Manuscript
Written text with brilliant decorations
Vienna Genesis - Rebecca and Eliezer at the Well, Jacob Wrestling the Angel
Purple vellum, silver ink, suggests wealthy ownership, uses continuous narration, nude figure representing water source shows persistence of classical motifs
Diptych
Picture or bas-relief made of 2 panels hinged together, often on an alterpiece.
Byzantine
Surviving Eastern Christian Roman Empire
Theocracy
Government utilizing messages from a God or gods
Barberini Ivory
Diptych leaf of Justinian on a rearing horse. Uses hierarchal scale. Right center panel has been lost.
Hagia Sophia
Justinian commissions beautiful church. Has a dome with many windows and a gold ceiling that implies divinity and roof appears as if it were floating. Converted to mosque. Made by mathematicians; included aspects from central-plan and basilica. Buttresses later added for support
Butttress
Mass of masonry used as a support or brace counteracting the outward thrust of an arch or vault
Minarets
Towers for Muslim criers
San Vitale
ca. 547, Ravenna, Italy. Uses two concentric octagons. Most famous for 6th-century mosaics covering its interior (Justinian with Bishop Maximianus and their attendants; Theodora and her attendants)
Chancel
Part of a church reserved for a clergy and containing the altar and choir
Paten
Large bowl or plate used for the Eucharist bread
Eucharist
Breaking break, drinking wine
Chaline
For wine in Eucharist