ARCHITECTURAL TERM

PEDIMENT - In classical Architecture, the triangular gable end of the roof

- above the horizontal cornice, often filled with sculpture. Also
called a Fronton when used to crown a subordinate feature, as a
window.
- In later work, a surface used ornamentally over doors or
windows.

PARTS:
EPITHEDES - The upper member of the cornice of an entablature.
RANKING CORNICE - A cornice following the slope of a gable, pediment, or roof
TYMPANUM, TYMPAN - The triangular or segmental space enclosed by a pediment or Architecture.
- Any space similarly marked off or bounded, as above a window, or between the
lintel of a door 7 the Arch above.
ACROTERION, ACROTER
ACROTERIUM - Strictly a pedestal at corners or peak of a roof to support an ornament itself.
CAVETTO, GORGE, HOLLOW,
THROAT, TRACHILUS - A hollow member or round concave molding containing at least the quadrant
of a circle, used in cornices & between the tori of bases, etc. erroneously called
“scotta”, which has a noncircular curvature.
ENTABLATURE - In classical Architecture, the elaborated beam member carried by the columns,
Horizontally divided into architrave (below), freeze, and cornice (above). The
proportions & detailing are different for each other, & strictly prescribed.
- A similar feature as the crown of a wall.
PARTS:
CORNICE - The third or uppermost division of an entablature, resting on the freeze.
- Any molded projection which crowns or finishes the part to which it is fixed.
- A ornamental molding, usually of wood or plaster, running round the walls of a
room just the ceiling.
FRIEZE -The middle horizontal member of a classical entablature, above the
architrave & below the cornice.
- A similar decorative band in a stringcourse, or near the top of an interior wall
below the cornice.
ARCHITRAVE - in classical orders, the lowest member of the entablature; the beam that spans
from column to column, resting directly upon their capitals.
PARTS OF CORNICE:
MUTULE - A sloping flat block on the soffit of the Doric cornice, usually decorated with
Rows of six guttae each; occurs over each triglyph & each me tope of the frieze.
REGLET - A fillet or small flat-faced projection, as used in a fret molding or to cover a joint
between two boards.
TOP OF TRIGLYPH:
CYMA RECTA,
DORIC CYMA - A molding of double curvature which is concave at the outer edge & convex at
the inner edge.
CYMA REVERSA,
LESBIAN CYMA - A molding of double curvature which is convex at the outer edge and concave at
the inner edge.
PARTS OF FRIEZE:
ASTRGAL - A bead, usually half-round, with a fillet on one or both sides. It may be explain,
But the term is more correctly used to describe the classical molding consisting
of a string of beads or bead-and-reel shapes.
- A plain bead molding (serves much the same purpose as the fillet). Also called
roundel, baguette, or chaplet.
METOPE - The panel between the triglyphs in the Doric frieze, often carved.
SHANK - One of the plain spaces between the channels of a triglyph in a Doric frieze.
TRIGLYPH - The characteristic ornament of the Doric frieze, consisting of slightly raised
blocks of three vertical bands separated by V-shaped grooves. The triglyphs
alternate with plain or sculpture panels called metopes.
PARTS OF TRIGLYPH:
GLYPH - A sculpture pictograph.
- A groove or channel, usually vertical, intended as an ornament.
REVELLED CHANNEL - A decorative groove angled to its surface.
PARTS OF ARCHITRAVE
TAENIA, TENIA - A narrow raised band or fillet, particularly the topmost member of the Doric
Architrave.
REGULA, REGULAE - In the Doric entablature, one of a series of short fillets beneath the taenia,
each corresponding to a triglyph above.
GUTTA, GUTTAE - One of series of pendant ornaments, generally in the form of the frustum of a
cone, but sometimes cylindrical; usually found on the underside of the mutules
& regulate of Doric entablatures.
DENTIL - One of a band of small, square, tooth like blocks forming part of the characteristic
ornamentation of the ionic, Corinthian, & composite orders, &
sometimes the Doric.
FASCIA - Any flat horizontal member or molding with little projection, as the bands into
which the architraves of ionic & Corinthian entablatures are divided.
- Are relatively narrow vertical surface ( but broader than a fillet) which is
projected or cantilevered or supported on columns or element other than a wall
below.
DIVIDED INTO: upper fascia&
Lower fascia
COLUMN - In classical Architecture, a cylindrical support consisting of a base (except in
- Greek Doric), shaft, and capital; either monolithic or built up of drums the full
diameter of the shaft.
- In structures, a relatively long, slender structural compression member such as a
post, pillar, or strut; usually vertical, supporting a load which acts in (or near) the
direction of its longitudinal axis.
PARTS:
CAPITAL - The topmost member, usually decorated, of a column, pilaster, anta, etc. It may
Carry an architrave or an arcade or be surmounted by an impost block (dosseret).
SHAFT - The portion of a column, colonette, or pilaster between the base & the capital.
BASE - lower part of a column or pier, wider than the shaft, & resting on a plinth,
pedestal, podium, or stylobate.
- The lowest (and often widest) visible part of a building, often distinctively
treated. A base is distinguished from a foundation or footing in being visible
rather than buried.
PARTS OF A CAPITAL:
ABACUS - The uppermost member of the capital of a column; often a plain square slab,
but sometimes molded or otherwise enriched.
ECHINUS - The convex projecting molding of eccentric curve supporting the abacus of
the Doric capital. Hence the corresponding feature in capitals of other orders,
which often had egg & dart ornamentation; any molding of similar profile or
decoration .
- Also see avolo, bowtell.
ANNULET - A small molding, usually circular in plan & square or angular in section;
especially one of the fillets encircling the lower part of the Doric capital
above the necking.
NECKING - A molding or group of moldings between a column & capital.
- Any ornamental band at the lower part of capital; a hypotrachelium.
- In classical orders, the space between the bottom of the capital & the top of the
shaft, which is marked by a sink age or a ring of moldings.
TRACHELIUM,
TRACHELION - In classical Architecture, any member (usually part of the necking) which comes
between the hypotrachelium & the capital.
HYPOTRACHELIUM,HYPO-
TRACHELION, GORGERIN - In some columns, that part of the capital between the termination of the
shaft
& The annulet if the echinus, or the space between two neck moldings.
CHANNEL - A decorative groove, in carpentry or masonry.
VOLUTE - A spiral scroll, as on ionic, Corinthian, or composite capital s or oncconsoles,
etc.
SCROLL - An ornament consisting of a spirally wound band, either as a running ornament
or as a terminal, like the volutes of the ionic capital or the scrolls on consoles
& modillions.
EGG & DART - An egg-shaped ornament alternating with a dart-like ornament, used to enriched
ovolo and echinus moldings & also on bands.
FLEURON - The small flower at the center of each side of Corinthian abacus.
- Any small flower – like ornament in general. (usually acanthus plant).
HELIX - Any spiral, particularly a small volute or twist under the abacus of the Corinthian
capital. The volute of an ionic capital.
CAULICULUS, CAULICOLE - Any one of the ornamental stalks rising between the leaves of a Corinthian
capital from which the volutes spring.
CAULIS - One of the main stalks of leaves which spring from between the acanthus leaves
of the second row on each side of the typical Corinthian capita, & which are
carried up to support the volutes at the angles.
FILLET - A molding consisting of a narrow flat band, often square in section ; the term is
loosely applied to almost any rectangular molding; usually used in conjunction
with or to separate other moldings or ornaments, as the stria between the flutes
of columns.
- A carved ornament representing a flowing band or ribbon.
DIFFERENT MOLDING ON A SHAFT:
APOPHYGE - That part of a column which is molded into a concave sweep where the shaft
springs from the base or terminates in the capital. Also called scape or conge.
- The hollow or Scotia beneath the echinus of some archaic Doric capitals.
HYPOPHYGE - A depression of curved profile beneath some feature, such as the hollow molding
beneath some archaic Doric capitals.
ARRIS, ARIS - An external angular intersection between two planar faces (an edge), or two
curved faces , as in moldings or between two flutes on a Doric column or
between a flute & the fillet on an ionic or a Corinthian column.
- The sharp edge of a brick.
FLUTE - A groove or channel, especially one of many such parallel grooves, usually
semi-circular or semi elliptical in section; used decoratively, as along the shaft
of a column. Fluting – a series of flutes.
SURBASE - the crowning moldings or cornice of pedestal.
- A border or molding above a base or dado.
TORUS - A bold projecting molding, convex in shape, generally forming the lowest
Member of a base over thee plinth.
PEDESTAL - A support for a column, statue, urn, etc., consisting in classical Architecture
of a base, dado, or die & a cornice, surbase, or cap; in modern design often plain
unornamented block.
- An upright compression member the height of which does not exceed three times
its least lateral dimension.
DADO, DIE - The middle portion of a pedestal between the base (or the plinth) & the surbase
(or the cornice, cap, or entablement).
CINCTURE, GIRDLE - A ring of moldings around the top or bottom of the shaft of a column, separating
the shaft from the capital or base; a fillet around a post. Also see necking.
CAP -Usually, the topmost member of any vertical Architectural element, often
projecting, with a drip as protection from the weather, e.g., the coping of a wall,
top of pedestal or buttress, etc.
- The upper member of a column, pilaster, molding & the like.
PLINTH - A square or rectangular base for column, pilaster, or door framing.
- A solid monumental base, often ornamented with moldings, bas relief’s, or
inscriptions, to support a statue or memorial.
- A recognizable base of an external wall, or the base courses of a bldg.
collectively, if so a platform.
GREEK TEMPLES:
PARTS:
CREPIDOMA - The base courses (3stepped platform) of a classical ( esp. Greek) temple.
PARTS:
STYLOBATE - Strictly, the single top course of the 3 steps of the crepidoma upon which the
columns rest directly.
- Any continuous base, plinth, or pedestal, upon which a row of columns is set.
STEREOBATE - The substructure, foundation or solid platform upon which a building is erected.
In a columnar building, it includes the stylobate (the uppermost step or platform
of the foundation upon which the columns stand). The lowest step on a
crepidoma.
ANTA - A pier or pilaster formed by a thickening at the end of a wall; its capital & base
Differ from those of the columns forming part of the same order. Antae often occur
in pairs on either side of a doorway or beyond the face of the end walls.
PRONAOS - The inner portico in front of the naos, or cella, of a classical temple.
NAOS, CELLA - The sanctuary of a classical temple , containing the cult statue of the God.
EPINAOS, POSTICUM,
OPISTHODOMOS - A chamber at the rear of the cella of a classical temple, corresponding to the
pronaos in front.
HYPAETHRAL - A building which is open, or partly open, to the sky. (An open court or enclosure);
a place or part of a building that is roofless is HYPAETHRON. (see atrium)
PTEROMA, PTERON - The passageway between the walls of the cella of a classical temple & the
columns
Of the peristyle.
PORTICO - A porch or covered walk consisting of a roof supported by columns; a colonnaded
(continuous row of columns) porch.
- A free standing roofed colonnade; a stoa.
GREEK THEATERS:
PARTS:
SCENA, SCENE - A temporary building or booth for players behind the acting area in the ancient
Theatre ; later the permanent back building of the theatre. (skene, scaena-Greek &
Latin term respectively).
PARASCENIUM - A projecting wall with wing at the end of the skene.
CAVEA - The semi-circular, tiered seating area of an ancient (especially roman) theatre.
(Auditoriums)
DIAZOMA - The wide horizontal walkway between the lower & upper tiers of seats in a Greek
Theatre.
ORCHESTRA - Stage of concrete circles & elevated with an altar in dedication to their Gods.
STAGE - A floor area or platform for dramatic, musical, other types of performance
ROMAN ARCH:
PARTS:
STRINGCOURSE,
BELT COURSE - A horizontal band of masonry; generally narrower than other courses, extending
across the facade of a structure & in some instances encircling such decorative
features as pillars or engaged columns; may be flush or projecting, & flat surfaced,
molded, or richly carved; a bond course.
KEYSTONE - In masonry the central, often embellished, voussoir or an Architecture until the
keystone is in place, no true ARCH action is incurred.
ARCHIVOLT - An architrave modified by being carried around a curved opening instead of
of a rectangular one; An ornamental molding or band of molding on the face of an
Archtecture following the contour of the extrados.
ARCH STONE, VOUSSOIR - A wedge-shaped masonry unit in an Arch or vault whose converging sides
are
cut as radii of one of the centers of the Arch or vault
INTRADOS - The inner curve or face of an Arch or vault forming the concave underside.
EXTRADOS - The exterior curve or boundary of the visible face of the Arch.
SPANDREL - An area, roughly triangular in shape, included between the extradoses of two
adjoining Arches & line approximately connecting their crowns (or space
approximately equal to half this in the case of a single Arch); in medieval
Architecture, often ornamented with tracery, etc.
HAUNCH - The middle part between the crown & the springing of an Arch.
ARCHWAY - A passage through or under an Arch, especially when long, as under a barrel
vault.
SPRING LINE - The imaginary horizontal line at which an Arch or vault begins to curve; the
line in which the Springer’s rest on the imposts.
STILT, STILTING - A structural area or element lifting another such above its regular position.
- A member placed above or below another vertical member for additional height.
IMPOST - A masonry unit or course, often distinctively profiled, which receives & distributes
the thrust at each end of an Architecture, also see springer.
ABUTMENT - A masonry mass (or the like) which receives the thrust of an Arch, vault, or strut.
EARLY CHRISTIAN CHURCHES:
PARTS:
APSE - A semicircular ( or nearly semicircular) or semi-polygonal space,
usually in a church, terminating an axis & intended to house an altar.
CATHEDRAL - The bishop’s throne, set at the end of the apse.
NICHE - A recess in wall, usually to contain sculpture or an urn; often
semi-circular in plan, surmounted by a half dome.
ALTAR - An elevated table, slab, or structure, often of stone, rectangular round
for religious, rites, sacrifices, or offerings. The communion table in
certain churches.
SANCTUARY - The immediate area around the principal altar. The sacred shrine of
divinity. (composed of chancel & choir).
CHANCEL - The sanctuary of a church, including the choir, reserved
for the clergy.
CANCELLI - bared screens in a Basilica, separating the clergy from the Laity.
BALDOCHINO,
CIBORIUM - An ornamental canopy over an altar, usually supported on columns, or
a similar form over tomb or throne.
CIMBORIO - A lantern or cupola above or nearly above the high altar in Spanish
Architecture.
BEMA - A transverse space in a church a few steps above the floor of the nave & aisles, & separating
them from the apse.
in a synagogue, a raised pulpit from which the torah (holy bible) is
read.
CHOIR - that part of a church between the sanctuary & the nave reserved for
singers & clergy.
CONFESSIO - The tomb of a martyr or confessor; if an altar was erected over the grave, the name
was also extended to the altar & to the subterranean chamber in which it stood;
In later times a basilica was sometimes erected over the chamber & the entire bldg.
was known as a confession. (A crypt below).
PULPIT - An elevated enclosed stand in a church in which the preacher stands. (Speaking
place).
LOGEION, LOGEUM - The raised platform for the actors in the Hellenistic theatre, corresponding to the
modern stage.
NAVE - The middle aisle of a church.
- By extension, both middle & side aisles from the entrance to the crossing or
chancel.
- That part of the church intended primarily for the laity.
NAVE ARCADE - The open arcade between the central & side aisles.
AISLE - The longitudinal passage between sections of seats in an auditorium or church.
- In a church, the space flanking & parallel to the nave; usually separated from it
by columns, intended primarily for circulation but sometimes containing seats.
NARTHEX - An enclosed porch or vestibule at the entrance to some early Christian churches.
AMBULATORY - A passageway around the apse of a church, or for circumambulating a shrine.
- A covered walk of a cloister.
ATRIUM - The forecourt of an early Christian Basilica, with colonnades on all four sides, &
Usually a fountain for ablutions in the center.
EMBRASURE - The crenels or intervals between the merlons of a battlement.
- An enlargement of a door or window opening, at the inside face of the wall by
means of splayed sides.
CRENEL, CRENELLE - An open space between the merlons of a battlement.
MERLON - In an embattled parapet, one of the solid alternates between the embrasures.
BATTLEMENT,
EMBATTLEMENT - A fortified parapet with alternate solid parts & openings, termed respectively
“merlons” & “embrasures” or “crenels” (hence crenellation). General for
defense, but employed also as a decorative motif.
- A roof or platform serving as battle post.
MACHICOLATION
BARTRAN - On a fortified wall, a small overhanging structure with lookout holes & loops,
often at a corner or near an entrance gateway.
ARROW LOOP, LOOPHOLE - A vertical slit for archers in medieval fortification walls, with jambs deeply
splayed toward the interior.
LOOPHOLE - Any opening in a parapet or wall to provide for vision, light, or air.