Art History Glossary Terms

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Apotheosis

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the highest point in the development of something; culmination or climax."his appearance as Hamlet was the apotheosis of his career"the elevation of someone to divine status; deification.

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Balsilica

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an early Christian or medieval church of the type built especially in Italy, characterized by a plan including a nave, two or four side aisles, a semicircular apse, a narthex, and often other features, as a short transept, a number of small semicircular apses terminating the aisles, or an atrium. The interior is characterized by strong horizontality, with little or no attempt at rhythmic accents. All spaces are usually covered with timber roofs or ceilings except for the apse or apses, which are vaulted.

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Blind Arcade

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A blind arcade is an arcade that is composed of a series of arches that has no actual openings and that is applied to the surface of a wall as a decorative element: i.e. the arches are not windows or openings but are part of the masonry face

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Catacombs

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Usually, catacombs. an underground cemetery, especially one consisting of tunnels and rooms with recesses dug out for coffins and tombs. 2. the Catacombs, the subterranean burial chambers of the early Christians in and near Rome, Italy. 3. an underground passageway, especially one full of twists and turns.

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Chimera

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1. Greek Mythology A fire-breathing female monster usually represented as a composite of a lion, goat, and serpent.2. An imaginary monster made up of grotesquely disparate parts.

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Cista

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A cista (Kiste) in the classical world was generally a casket, used for example to hold unguents or jewels. More specifically, in the Mystery cult, a cista mystica (literally "sacred chest") is a basket or chest used to house snakes. Cistae mystica were used in the initiation ceremony of the cult of Bacchus or Dionysus, as well as an early gnostic sect called the Ophites. Cistae mysticae appear on ancient Roman and Greek coins.

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Concrete

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an artificial, stonelike material used for various structural purposes, made by mixing cement and various aggregates, as sand, pebbles, gravel, or shale, with water and allowing the mixture to harden. Compare reinforced concrete.

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Cuirass

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a. A piece of armor for protecting the breast and back, often consisting of two pieces fastened together.b. The front piece of this armor.

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Damnatio memoriae

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Damnatio memoriae is the Latin phrase literally meaning "damnation of memory" in the sense of a judgment that a person must not be remembered. It was a form of dishonor that could be passed by the Roman Senate upon traitors or others who brought discredit to the Roman State. The intent was to erase someone from history, a task somewhat easier in ancient times, when documentation was much sparser.

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Decursio

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a military maneuver of classical antiquity; specifically : a procession of armed troops around a funeral pile.

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Encaustic

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(especially in painting and ceramics) using pigments mixed with hot wax that are burned in as an inlay.nounnoun: encaustic1. the art or process of encaustic painting.

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Eucharist

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the Christian ceremony commemorating the Last Supper, in which bread and wine are consecrated and consumed.

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Forum

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a place, meeting, or medium where ideas and views on a particular issue can be exchanged."it will be a forum for consumers to exchange their views on medical research"synonyms:meeting, assembly, gathering, rally, conference, seminar, convention, symposium, colloquium, caucus; Moreinformalget-together; formalcolloquy "forums were held for staff to air grievances"setting, place, scene, context, stage, framework, backdrop; medium, means, apparatus, auspices "a forum for discussion"an Internet site where users can post comments about a particular issue or topic and reply to other users' postings; a message board.2. North Americana court or tribunal.

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Iconoclasm

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the action of attacking or assertively rejecting cherished beliefs and institutions or established values and practices.2. the rejection or destruction of religious images as heretical; the doctrine of iconoclasts.

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Insula

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Insula, (Latin: “island”), in architecture, block of grouped but separate buildings or a single structure in ancient Rome and Ostia. The insulae were largely tenements providing economically practical housing where land values were high and population dense.

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Oculus

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An oculus (plural oculi, from Latin oculus, eye) is a circular opening in the centre of a dome or in a wall. Originating in antiquity, it is a feature of Byzantine and Neoclassical architecture.

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Orant

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orant, in Christian art, a figure in a posture of prayer, usually standing upright with raised arms.

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Pantokrator

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"Pantokrator" is the Greek translation of the Hebrew title El Shaddai, meaning "all powerful." Looser translations are "Ruler of all" or "Sustainer of all." This attribution to Jesus was important given the Christological controversies that tore the early church.

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Pendentive

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A pendentive is a constructive device permitting the placing of a circular dome over a square room or an elliptical dome over a rectangular room.

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Tessera

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A tessera (plural: tesserae, diminutive tessella) is an individual tile, usually formed in the shape of a cube, used in creating a mosaic. It is also known as an abaciscus or abaculus.