Temples typologies: church, mosque and synagogue

Question 1

What is an aisle?

Answer 1

In a basilican church, the portion set parallel to the nave, generally separated from it by columns or piers

Question 2

What is an apse?

Answer 2

The termination of the nave of a basilica or the choir in a basilican church

Question 3

What is a basilica?

Answer 3

• A rectangular building that has a central section with a higher roof (the nave if a church) flanked by lower aisles on both long sides.
• A semi-circular projection, the apse, was often set at one or both of the shorter ends.
• Early Christians adapted the form as a basis for church design, replacing one apse with the main entrance and establishing a processional axis the length of the building. The altar was placed in the apse at the end.

Question 4

What is a baptistery?

Answer 4

a building, generally octagonal, used for the Christian rite of baptism

Question 5

What is a chancel?

Answer 5

The east end of a church, in which the main altar is place

Question 6

What is a choir?

Answer 6

The eastern end of a basilican church, where the divine service was sung

Question 7

What is the crossing?

Answer 7

In a basilican church, the space where transepts, nave and choir intersect

Question 8

What is the Greek cross plan?

Answer 8

A plan in the form of a cross having arms of equal length

Question 9

What is the Latin Cross Plan?

Answer 9

A plan in the form of a cross having one longer arm (normally the western one) that creates a nave, i.e. a basilica with a cross-shaped plan

Question 10

What is the nave?

Answer 10

The Western arm of a Basilican Church

Question 11

St Peter’s Basilica

Rome, Italy

330

Answer 11

• Built during reign of Constantine
• Located on the traditional burial site of St Peter the Apostle
• Uses typical Roman basilica format
• Piered basilica with nave and two aisles
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Question 12

Dome of the Rock

Jerusalem, Israel

687‐92

Answer 12

• Shrine located on the Temple of the Mount
• Octagonal plan
• Wooden dome, mounted on an elevated drum
• Place where Muhammad the prophet ascended to heaven the Gabriel the Angel
• Elaborately decorated mosaics adorn the exterior
• System of columns support arches in the interior

Question 13

Great Mosque of Cordoba

Cordoba, Spain

784‐6, 833‐988

Answer 13

• Hypostyle hallway
• Horse-shoe arches
• Reminiscent of Corinthian capitals with impost blocks

Question 14

Friday Mosque of Isfahan

Iran

8‐16th centuries

Answer 14

• Personifies the changes in design and from the 8th to 16th centuries
• At the centre of the old city
• Previously, several paths of access leading to the mosque
• Intimate ties with urban landscape, shared walls with other buildings
• ‘Four-iwan’ design
  
  • an iwan is a vaulted space that opens on one side to a courtyard
• Courtyard at the centre links the four iwans