Architecture of Cathedrals and Great Churches Flashcards

A large, semicircular or plygonal (and usually vaulted) niche. In the Christian church, it contains the altar.

The passageway around the apse in a basillican church or around the central space in a central-plan building.

The open courtyard in front of a Christian church.

Passage or open corridor of a church that parallels the main space, usually on both sides, and is delineated by a row, or arcade, of columns or piers.

A large rectangular building. Often built with a clerestory, side aisles separated from the center nave by colonnades, and an apse at one or both ends.

A building used for the Christian ritual of baptism, tradiotionally having a central plan.

The vaulted underground space beneath the floor of a church, usually under the sanctuary, which may contain tombs and relics.

The topmost zone of a wall with windows in a basilica extending above the roofs of the aisles. Provides direct light in to the central interior space, the nave.

A recessed decorative panel that, repeated, is used to decorate ceilings is used to decorate ceilings or vaults.

An underground burial ground consisting of tunnels on different levels, having niches for urns and sarcophagi and often incorporating rooms (cubiculae).

A series of arches, carried by columnsor piers and supporting a common wall or lintel.

Matthew, Mark, Luke, & John

A private home used as a Christian church.

An image in any material representing a sacred figure or event in the Byzantine, and later, the Orthodox Church. Venerated by thefaithful, whio believed them to have miraculous powers to transmit messages to God.

The banning or destruction of images, especially icons and religious art.