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Glossary
Acroterion a decorative
projection, usually found on the corners above a door or window.
Adyton a Latin term describing the inner chamber or the
most holy area of a temple, usually containing an image of the
deity worshiped there. The adyton is an inner room reached
from the cella.
Architrave the
main bean resting directly on top of a column; the lowest member
of an entablature.
Archivolts bands
or moldings around an arches opening.
Ashlar a type of hewn stone,
generally rectangular and large in size.
Attic (external)
raised store above the cornice of the building or the
entablature of the temple, serving an ornamental function;
(internal) small room above the adyton or cella.
Barrel Vault a
continuous rounded vault with no cross vaults, like the shape of
a barrel. It resembles a barrel cut in half lengthwise.
Base a carved
foundation stone for a column, usually larger in diameter.
Buttress any
vertical prop or support for a structure, sometimes independent
of the structure itself.
Capital a separate, carved
stone or faηade placed on top of a column to hold the lintel,
usually highly decorated.
Cella a Greek
term used of the holy area within a temple, usually where one
worships.
Cistern an
underground area used to store water. Unlike a well, water does
not naturally flow into a cistern from a subterranean source.
Cornice a
ledge-like crown projecting from a wall.
Cushion Capital a
simple rectangular or cube-like capital with the bottom corners
tapered.
Entablature a lintel-like feature supported by columns or
pilasters and usually placed over a doorway or window.
Fillet a thin, horizontal
band in a straight profile, usually found on a cornice,
architrave, or entablature, for decoration.
Foliate Capital a
capital decorated with foliage elements.
Frieze an
elongated carved architectural decoration.
Jamb a vertical element of a
doorway or window frame.
Key Stone the
voussoir at the top of an arch. It is important structurally
since it marks the apex of the vault.
Khirbet Arabic word meaning
ancient ruin.
Niche an inset carved or built into a structure that
resembles a window, where a statue or a decoration may be
placed. Pediment
a roof-like faηade carve above a doorway, a window, or a
niche. Pilaster
column-like features carved into a building. A pilaster is a
column faηade.
Rise the vertical
distance between the spring line and the key stone of an arch or
vault.
Sill the base or
support at the bottom of a niche or window.
Span the
horizontal distance between the two supporting members of a
vault or arch.
Spring Line the
point or line where an arch or vault begins to curve.
Springer the
lowest voussoir on each side of an arch. It is where the
vertical support for the arch terminates and the curve of the
arch begins.
Threshold a beam
or support below a doorway.
Tympanum the
triangular area within the recess of a pediment.
Voussoir one of the wedge-shaped stones used in constructing
an arch.
Wadi a
valley with a dry riverbed.
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