A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, V, X, Z

IT has been the translator’s endeavor to avoid technical terms wherever this was possible without detracting from exactness of expression. Of those which it has proved necessary to introduce into the present History, it is intended in this glossary to define neither words in common usage, like basilica, battlement, column, etc., nor those designations of infrequent occurrence which should be interpreted whenever employed, like the Greek and Latin names of the many divisions of the ancient theatre, bath, and gymnasion. A few of the former—as, for instance, the too often interchanged channel, flute, and reed—have, however, been given for the sake of discrimination. In these cases, and in the case of some other words which are often employed in senses too widely extended to allow of their being used without qualification in careful architectural descriptions, it has been attempted to make some advance towards precision of usage.

Ab´acus (Gr. ?a?-a???. Lat. abax and abacus, a slab. Possibly in its architectural signification from ast???, to lift up, to bear). The plinth which forms the upper part of the capital—supporting the entablature by bearing the lower surface of the epistyle beam. The abacus is the crowning member of the capital, as the capital is of the column. In the Doric style it is thick and of square plan, in the Corinthian order thin and curved upon the sides.

Acrote´rion, pl. acroteria (Gr. from ?????, outermost). The ornaments, such as statues or anthemion shields, placed upon the angles of the gable—whether of the outer corners or of the apex. The term is also applied to the pedestals of these ornaments.

Ag´onal, adj. (from Gr. ????, festive gathering, especially an assembly met to see games; also the place of contest itself). Pertaining to a festive destination. The word agones is used for the arena itself by Grote. (For the hypothetical distinction between agonal temples and those consecrated alone to the worship of a deity, introduced by Boetticher, see p. 214.)

Ag´ora (Gr. an assemblage of the people; hence, the place where such meetings were commonly held). A public square or marketplace. Synonymous with the more familiar Latin forum.

Amphiprosty´los, adj. amphip´rostyle (from Gr. ?f?, on both sides; p??, in front of; and st????, column). A term applied to a temple having a columned portico at the rear (epinaos), as well as at the front (pronaos), but without lateral columns.

An´nulet (Lat. annulus, or, according to the best manuscripts, anulus, ring, terminated by Ital. diminutive). A small fillet encircling the base of the Doric echinos. The number of annulets is commonly three.

An´ta, pl. antÆ (Lat.). Terminations similar to pilasters upon the ends of the lateral walls of the cella, in pronaos and epinaos. Though a corresponding member, the anta is in form but little allied to the column, because its individual function is so different.

An´tefix (from Lat. ante, before, and fixus, fixed). An upright ornament like a small shield, placed above the corona when the gutter is omitted, to hide the end of the jointing tile ridge.

Anthe´mion (Gr. patterned with flowers, from ?????, to blossom). The so-called palmetto or honeysuckle ornament, employed on acroteria and antefixes, and also as a continuous decoration on bands, gutters, etc., and the necking of some Ionic capitals.

In an´tis (Lat.). The simplest variety of temple plan, so called by Vitruvius because the pronaos or portico is formed by the projection of the side walls, terminated by antÆ, between which stand columns.

Apoph´yge (Gr. escape; from ?p?, from, and fe???, to flee. In its technical employment, of the same significance as the Fr. congÉ and Ger. Ablauf). The hollow, or scotia, beneath the Doric echinos, the juncture between shaft and capital, occurring in archaic examples of the style, and relinquished with its advance.

Ar´ris (Lat. arista, beard of an ear of grain, bone of a fish. Old Fr. areste). The sharp edge formed by two surfaces meeting at an exterior angle. Particularly the ridge between the hollows of Doric channellings.

As´tragal (Gr. ?st???a???, knuckle-bone, one of the vertebrÆ of the neck, the bone of the ankle-joint). A roundlet moulding carved into the form of beads; employed on the Ionic capital, and to separate the projecting faces of the epistyle and coffering beams.

Atlas, pl. Atlan´tes (Gr. the fabled upholder of the heavens). Figures of male human beings, generally of colossal size, carved either in the full or half round, and employed in the place of columns or pilasters to support an entablature.

A´trium (Lat.; from Gr. a????a, open sky?). The chief space of the Roman dwelling-house; an inner court usually surrounded by columns.

At´tica (from Gr. ?tt????, pertaining to Attica). The upright portion of a building above the main cornice.Bar´biton (Gr.). An ancient Greek musical instrument of many strings, resembling a lyre.Caryat´id, pl. caryat´ides (Gr. pl. priestesses of Artemis at CaryÆ in Laconia, the connection of which with the architectural support has not as yet been satisfactorily explained). Figures of female human beings employed in the place of columns to support an entablature.

Cel´la (Lat.; from celare, to hide). All that portion of the temple structure within the walls. The term cella is comprehensive, including pronaos, naos, and, if such there be, opisthodomos and epinaos.

Cham´fer (Fr. chamfrein, Old Engl. chanfer). A slope or small splay formed by cutting off the edges of an angle.

Chan´nel (a modification of canal, from Lat. canna, reed). A curved furrow, immediately adjoining its repetition, and separated from it only by an arris, as in the Doric column.

Chorag´ic (Gr. ???a????? or ?????????, from ?????, chorus, and ???, to lead). Pertaining to, or in honor of, a choregos, i. e. one who superintended a musical or theatrical entertainment among the Greeks, and provided a chorus at his own expense.

Chryselephan´tine (Gr. ???se?ef??t????, from ???s??, gold, and ??efa?, ivory). A kind of sculpture in gold and ivory overlaying a wooden kernel—the drapery and ornaments being of the former, the exposed flesh of the latter, material.

Clere´-story (Fr. clair-Étage, claire-voie, from clair, light). That portion of a central aisle which is so raised above the surrounding parts of the building as to permit the illumination of the interior through windows in its side walls.

Coilanaglyph´ic (from Gr. ??????, hollow, and ???f?, carving). That species of carving in relief in which no part of the figure represented projects beyond the surrounding plane, the relief being effected by deeply incising the outlines.

Cor´nice (Gr. ???????, Lat. coronis, terminating curved line; flourish with the pen at the end of a book). The uppermost division of the entablature—the representative of the roof—consisting of projecting mouldings and blocks, usually divisible into bed-moulding, corona, and gutter. Hence, in general usage, any moulded projection which crowns and terminates the part upon which it is employed.

Coro´na (Lat. crown). The chief member of the cornice, directly beneath the gutter, by its great projection and rectilinear faces forming the drip.

Crepido´ma (Gr. from ???p??-?d??, boot). The entire foundation of the temple, including the stereobate, the stylobate, and the remaining steps.

Cy´ma (Gr. wave). A moulding composed of two distinct curves. The Doric cyma is commonly called the beak-moulding, the Lesbian cyma the cyma reversa.Den´til (Lat. denticulus, from dens, dentis, tooth). Small rectangular blocks in the bed-moulding of a cornice, originally representing the ends of the slats which formed the ceiling.

Diad´ochi (Gr. successors, from d?ad???a?, to receive from another), a term applied to the successors of Alexander.

Diminution. In architectural usage, the continued contraction of the diameter of the shaft as it ascends.

Dip´teros, adj. dip´teral (from Gr. d??, double, and pte???, wing). That variety of a temple plan which has two ranges of columns entirely surrounding the cella.

Dro´mos (Gr. course). A road; particularly applied to the entrance-passages to subterranean treasure-houses.Echi´nos, pl. echi´ni (Gr. hedgehog, so called from the resemblance of the member to the shell of the sea-urchin). The curved and projecting moulding which supports the abacus in the Doric capital.

Egg-and-dart moulding. Term applied to the well-known carving of the roundel common in the Ionic style.

Empais´tic (Gr. ?pa?st???; from ??, in, and pa??, to stamp). Stamped and embossed work of metal; also sheets of metal applied or inlaid.

Entab´lature (Lat. intabulamentum; from tabula, board, table). In the Greek styles the whole of the structure above the columns, excepting the gable. The entablature consists of three members: the epistyle, or architrave, joining the columns and taking the place of the wall; the frieze, standing before, and in the Doric style imitating, the ceiling and its beams; and the terminal cornice, the representative of the ends of the roof rafters.

En´tasis (Gr.; from ??te???, to bend a bow). The swelling of the column towards its middle, the object of which is to counteract an optical delusion causing the diminished shaft, when formed with absolutely straight lines, to appear hollowed in the centre.

Epina´os (formed by analogy with pronaos; from Gr. ?p?, after, behind, and ?a??, naos). The open vestibule behind the naos.

Ep´istyle (Gr. ?p?st?????; from ?p?, after, upon, and st????, column). The lower member of the entablature, the representative of the wall, consisting, as the name imports, of beams laid horizontally upon the capitals of the columns. The epistyle is commonly spoken of by its Roman name, architrave.Fascine´ (Lat. fascina; from fascis, bundle). A bundle of long, thin sticks employed in military engineering for filling ditches, raising parapets, etc.

Fil´let (Fr. filet, thread; from Lat. filum). A ribbon; a narrow, flat band used in the separation of one moulding from another. Especially the ridge between the flutes of the Ionic shaft.

Flute. In architectural usage, a curved and usually semicircular furrow, separated from its repetition by a narrow fillet, as in the Ionic column. So called from its similarity to the musical instrument.

Frieze (Ital. freggio, adorned?). The second member of the entablature. When enriched by carvings of men or animals in relief, as is common in the Ionic style, and as occurs upon the cella wall of the Doric Parthenon, the frieze is in classic architecture called zophoros.Gar´goyle (Fr. gargouille; from gargouiller, to dabble, to paddle). A carved waterspout projecting from the gutter.

Gymna´sion (Gr.; from ?????, naked). Originally an open space, but in later times extensive courts and buildings, devoted to mental as well as bodily instruction and exercises.He´lix, pl. hel´ices (Gr. anything twisted or spiral; from ???ss?, to turn around). A spiral, particularly the volutes of the Ionic capital and the corner leaves and tendrils of the Corinthian.

Hexasty´los, adj. hex´astyle (from Gr. ??, six, and st????, column). A building, particularly a temple, upon the front of which are six columns.

Hip´podrome (Gr. ?pp?d????; from ?pp??, horse, and d????, way). A course prepared for the races of horses and chariots.

HypÆ´thron, adj. hypÆ´thral (Lat. hypÆthrus; from Gr. ?p?, under, and a????, clear sky). Term applied to a temple supposed by some writers on Greek architecture to have been lighted from above, by an orifice through roof and ceiling.

Hyper´oÖn (Gr.). The upper stories of a house; particularly the galleries above the side-aisles in the interior of the Greek temple.

Hyp´ostyle (Gr. ?p?st????; from ?p?, under, and st????, column). A space, with or without lateral enclosure, the ceiling of which rests upon columns.Inci´sion. In architectural usage, the deep groove which separates the necking of the column from the upper drum of the shaft beneath. At times repeated to emphasize this separation.

Intercolumnia´tion (from Lat. inter, between, and columna, column). The open space between two columns, measured at the base. The measures are often taken from centre to centre of the columns.Lacu´na, pl. lacunÆ (Lat.; from Gr. ?????, pit, originally anything hollow). A sunken panel in the under surface of any constructive feature, particularly of a horizontal ceiling.

Log´gia (Ital.; from Lat. locus, place). A covered space enclosed by walls, but with one or, in exceptional instances, two sides entirely open to the air.

Lychni´tes (Gr. ?????t?? ?????; from ??????, light). A variety of fine-grained marble from the island of Paros, probably so called because quarried by torchlight.Met´ope (Gr.; from et?, between, and ?p?, opening). Originally the orifice between the beam-ends of the Doric ceiling; hence, in later times, the stones which were employed to close these openings. The nearly square slabs between the triglyphs.

Monop´teros (from Gr. ????, alone, single, and pte???, wing). A circular structure of outstanding columns, commonly without a cella enclosed by walls.

Mu´tule (Lat. mutulus). A projection upon the soffit of the Doric corona, which originally marked the position of the rafter-ends beneath the sheathing.Na´os (Gr.). The innermost chamber of the Greek temple.

Neck´ing. In architectural usage, the space, if such be separated, between the top of the shaft and the projecting members of the capital. In the Doric style, for instance, the continuation of the channellings above the incision or incisions to the annulets of the echinos, including the hypophyge, when this occurs.Octosty´los, adj. oc´tostyle (from Gr. ??t?, eight, and st????, column). A building, particularly a temple, upon the front of which are eight columns.

Odei´on (Gr.; from ?d?, song). A hall, similar to a modern theatre, devoted to the production of the lyric works of poets and musicians.

Ogive´ (Fr.). The pointed arch.

Opisthod´omos (Gr. from ?p?s?e, behind, and d???, house). An enclosed chamber in a temple, entered from the epinaos, commonly employed to contain the treasure of the temple or of the state.Palais´tra (Gr.; from pa?a?st??, wrestler). A building or enclosure devoted to wrestling, boxing, and kindred gymnastic exercises; commonly, also, containing baths.

Perip´teros, adj. perip´teral (Gr.; from pe??, around, and pte???, wing). A temple entirely surrounded by columns.

Per´istyle, noun and adj. (from Gr. pe??, around, and st????, column). A term applied to a secular building, or a court, which is entirely or for the greater part surrounded by a colonnade.

PisÉ (Fr.; from piser, to build with stamped clay). A species of tenacious clayey earth, employed for walls and pavement by being rammed down.

Plinth (Lat. plinthus, from Gr. p??????, tile). Any rectangular and projecting member of considerable size. A narrow and long plinth is a fillet.

Po´ros (Gr.). A light, coarse tufa-limestone almost exclusively employed during the earliest ages of Greek architecture.

Prona´os (Gr.; from p??, before, and ?a??). The open vestibule before the naos.

PropylÆ´on, pl. propylÆ´a (Gr.; from p??, before, and p???, gate). The portal structure before the entrance to a Greek temenos.

Prosty´los, adj. pro´style (from Gr. p??, before, and st????, column). That variety of temple plan in which the projecting wall and pilasters of the temple in antis have been transformed to corner columns, thus altering the pronaos from a loggia to an open portico.

Pseudodip´teros (pseudo from Gr. ?e?d??, false; dipteros, see above). A temple planned upon the dipteral arrangement, in which the inner rank of columns surrounding the cella is wanting.

Pseudoperip´teros (pseudo from Gr. ?e?d??, false; peripteros, see above). A temple in which the columns surrounding the cella are engaged upon a continuous enclosure wall, as in the great temple of Acragas (Agrigentum).

Ptero´ma (Gr.; from pte???, wing). The passage surrounding the cella of a peripteral temple.

Py´lon (Gr.; from p???, gate). The towers of truncated pyramidal form on either side of the gateways of Egyptian temples.Quirk. In architectural usage, a moulding formed by a sharp turn in a continuous line.Reed. In architectural usage, a small convex moulding applied to a regular surface and frequently repeated. The term is commonly employed for the ornamentation of columns by reversed channels or flutes.

Reg´ula (Lat. any straight piece of wood, a ruler). The short band, corresponding to the triglyph, beneath the tÆnia moulding which crowns the epistyle; the listel. Originally determined by the slat of wood which strengthened the wall-plate at the point of its perforation by the trunnels.

Revet´ment, vb. to revete (Fr. revÊtement, from revÊtir, to clothe). A facing of metal, stone, or wood encasing a kernel—usually of some less firm or sightly material.

Round´el, dim. roundlet. A moulding of semicircular profile.Scamil´lus (Lat. little bench, foot-stool). A slight projection, cut by means of a joggle, upon a constructive feature in such a manner as to prevent its adjacent edges from touching and possibly chipping those of the next block. A scamillus thus creates the incision between the upper drum of the shaft and the necking of the Doric capital, and is also occasionally inserted between the top of the abacus and the soffit of the epistyle.

Sco´tia (Gr. darkness). A hollow curved moulding, so called from the deep line of shadow which it casts.

Soc´le (Lat. socculus, dim. of soccus, low shoe, slipper). The low, plain foundation of a pedestal or building.

Sof´fit (Ital. soffitta; from Lat. suffigere, to fasten beneath). The under side of any part of a building, particularly of lintels, epistyles, and coronas.

Sphyrel´aton (Gr.; from sf??a, hammer, and ??a???, to drive). Metal-work beaten to the shape of a carved kernel by a hammer.

Spi´na (Lat.; from Gr. sp????, lean, thin). The barrier dividing the race-course longitudinally into two tracks.

Sta´dion (Gr.; from st?d???, standing firm). A race-course of fixed dimensions, whence a measure of length, 600 Greek feet.

Ste´le (Gr.). An upright stone employed as a monument.

Ste´reobate (Gr. ste?e??t??; from ste?e??, firm, solid, and ?s??, base). The substructure of rough masonry beneath a temple.

Sto´a (Gr.). An extended colonnade, usually adjoining a public place, and affording protection against the heat of the sun.

Sty´lobate (Gr. st????t??; from st????, column, and ast???, to light up, support). The uppermost step of the peripteros, which forms a continuous base beneath the columns.TÆ´nia (Gr. ribbon). The continuous fillet which crowns the epistyle, representative of the wall-plate of the original timbered Doric construction.

Ta´lus (Lat. ankle). The slope or angle of inclination of the sides of a wall.

Taraxip´pos (Gr. adj. frightening the horses). An altar upon the turning-point of the Greek race-course.

Tel´amon (Gr. bearer). In architectural usage of the same significance as Atlas, which see above.

Tem´enos (Gr.; from t???, to cut, to draw a line). A piece of land marked off from common usages and dedicated to a deity. The sacred enclosure around the temple.

Tetrasty´los, adj. tet´rastyle (from Gr. t?t?a, four, and st????, column). A building, particularly a temple, upon the front of which are four columns.

Thal´amos (Gr.). Term applied by Homer to inner rooms or chambers, especially those of women. In the usage of Xenophon a store-room.

Tho´los (Gr.). A chamber of circular plan, generally subterranean, approaching in interior form that of a pointed vault.

Tore (Lat. torus, swelling, protuberance). A large roundel moulding.

Trac´ery. A patterning of thin bars, usually of stone, in a window or other opening.

Tri´glyph (Gr. t?????f??; from t??, three, and ???f?, carving, because of the three slats originally chamfered). The most prominent member of the Doric frieze, originally significant of the ends of the ceiling beams. A rectangular tablet slightly projecting beyond the face of the metopes, with which it alternates, and emphasized by vertical grooves and chamfers.

Trun´nel (allied etymologically to tree-nail and trunnion). A wooden pin or peg. Carved in stone beneath the regulas and mutules of the Doric entablature, the trunnels mark the position of these primitive constructive features. In form they are commonly the frustum of a cone.

Tym´panon (Gr. drum). The triangular space enclosed by the inclined mouldings of the gable and the horizontal cornice of the entablature beneath.Vela´rium (Lat.). The great curtain, or awning, extended above the auditories of the Roman theatre and amphitheatre to protect the spectators from the sun and rain.

Volute´ (Lat. voluta; from volvere, to roll). A spiral scroll. The term is particularly employed for such features in the Ionic and Corinthian capitals.Xo´anon, pl. xoana (Gr.; from ???, to work in wood by scraping). A rude and primitive image carved in wood; particularly antique statues of the deities.Zoph´oros (Gr.; from ????, being, figure, and f???, to bear). A continuous frieze, sculptured in relief with the forms of human beings and animals.