Roman Vocab Flashcards
Aisles
passage or open corridor
Amphitheater
Oval building with tiers of seats around central open area
Aqueduct
Channel for conducting water from a distance
Arcade
Series of arches carried by columns / piers and supporting common wall or lintel
Atmospheric perspective
Rendering effect of spatial distance by subtle variations in color and clarity of representation.
Atrium
Unroofed interior courtyard or room, sometimes having pool, garden, or surrounded by columns
Barrel vault
Elongated or continuous semicircular vault (half-cylinder)
Basilica
Large rectangular building. Often built with clerestory, side aisles separated from center by colonnade and apses. Center for administration (adapted later by Christian Church)
Buttressing
Prior support, usually of masonry, projecting from the face of a wall and serving either to strengthen it or to resist the side thrust created by the load on an arch or a roof
Christogram
a monogram or combination of letters that forms an abbreviation for the name of Jesus Christ
Clerestory
Topmost zone of wall with windows in basilica. Provides direct light into actual interior space.
Coffers
Recessed decorative panel used to reduce weight and decorate ceilings or vaults
Colonnade
Row of columns supporting lintel
Composite order
Combination of Ionic and Corinthian
Concrete
material used for building structures
Constantinope
dedicated by emperor Constantine in 330 ce; used to be port city of Byzantium.
Constantine
Roman emperor who ruled beginning in 312 ce; first christian emperor and first to be religiously tolerant
Continuous Narrative
illustrates multiple scenes of a narrative within a single frame
Dado
Lower part of wall
Diptych
Two panels of equal size (usually decorated w/ paintings or relief) that are hinged together
Dome
Round vault over circular space
Drum
Wall that supports dome
Edict of Milan
313CE
Granted freedom to all religious groups.
Emblemata
In mosaic, elaborate central motif on floor with small tessarae, done in more detail
Encaustic
Pigments and hot wax as medium
Engaged column
Column attached to wall
Equestrian Statue
bronze statue of Marcus Aurelius that works as propaganda to emphasize his power as emperor