The document provides key terminology and concepts related to the Romanesque architectural period, detailing structures like buttresses, corbel tables, and the elements of church architecture such as tympanum and apse. It highlights the role of monasticism in preserving knowledge and learning during this era, along with various decorative features and architectural styles typical of Romanesque buildings. Additionally, it discusses the significance of elements like arcades, columns, and crypts in design and function.

1. 9/29/2016 Assignment 3
Key terminology Romanesque Period
History 1
Fatma Mohamed-201210448
DR. SEIF KHIATI

2. Buttresses
Buttresses is an architectural structure built against r projecting from a wall which serves
to support or reinforce the wall
Because of the massive nature of Romanesque walls, buttresses are not a highly
significant feature, as they are in Gothic architecture. Romanesque buttresses are generally
of flat square profile and do not project a great deal beyond the wall. In the case of aisled
churches, barrel vaults, or half-barrel vaults over the aisles helped to buttress the nave, if it
was vaulted.
In the cases where half-barrel vaults were used, they effectively became like flying
buttresses. Often aisles extended through two stories, rather than the one usual in Gothic
architecture, so as to better support the weight of a vaulted nave. In the case of Durham
Cathedral, flying buttresses have been employed, but are hidden inside the triforium gallery.
Monasticism
or monkhood is a religious way of life in which one
renounces worldly pursuits to devote oneself fully to spiritual work. Males
pursuing a monastic life are generally called monks while female monastics are
called nuns, lives in monasteries to stay away from the secular world was
established by the monk Benedict in the 6th century.
The monasterieswere the majorseatsof learningof all sorts.Benedict
had orderedthatall the arts were to be taught andpracticedin the
monasteries.Withinthe monasteriesbookswere transcribedbyhand,andfew
people outsidethe monasteriescouldreadorwrite.
Corbel Table
Corbel table, in architecture, a continuous row of corbels (a block of
stone projecting from a wall and supporting some heavy feature), usually
occurring just below the eaves of a roof in order to fill in beneath a high-pitched
roof and to give extra support. It was a popular architectural feature in early
medieval churches, particularly in Romanesque buildings, in which the corbels
were carved and elaborately ornamented with decorative motifs, such as
fancifully sculptured grotesques.

3. Ornaments & Patterns: -
- FrescoPaintings
Painting on the church walls were used for decorating vaults and altars to lit people
understand the bible.
- Chevron
A zigzag molding used in Romanesque arches.
- Billet
molding formed by a series of circular, cylinders, disposed alternately with the notches in
single or multiple rows.
- Lozenges
tongue-like protrusions. A diamond shape decoration found carved on pillars, arches.

4. - Star
also called chip-carved star, motive star flower, or saltire cross.
- Cable
a convex molding carved in imitation of a rope or cord, and used to decorate the
moldings of the Romanesque style.
- Stained glass

5. 2 types of Romanesque Arches
Around Arches
- Semi Circular Arch
Around arch whose intrados in a full semicircle.
- Segmented Arch
A shallow arch, an arch that is less than a semicircle
- Stilted Arch
An arch whose curve begins above the impost line.
- Horseshoe Arch
also called the Moorish arch and the Keyhole arch

6. Doorwayswith tympanum
In architecture, a tympanum is the semi-circular or triangular decorative wall surface over
an entrance, bounded by a lintel and arch. It often contains sculpture or other imagery or
ornaments. Most architectural styles include this element. In ancient Greek and Roman and in
Christian architecture tympana usually contain religious imagery
Also called Romanesque Portal which acted as the focal point of the ornament.
Arcades
An arcade is a row of arches, supported on piers or columns. They occur in the
interior of large churches, separating the nave from the aisles, and in large secular interiors
spaces, such as the great hall of a castle, supporting the timbers of a roof or upper floor.
Arcades also occur in cloisters and atriums, enclosing an open space.

7. Door portaldiagram
- Tympanum: the surface enclosed by the arch and lintel of an arched
doorway, frequently carved with relief sculptures.
- Lintel: a horizontal beam spanning an opening, as over a window or door, or
between two posts.
- Trumeau: doorpost supporting lintel.
- Jamb: the side of a doorway or window frame. The jambs of the portals of
Romanesque and Gothic churches are frequently decorated with figure
sculpture.

8. Piers
In Romanesque architecture, piers were often employed to support arches. They
were built of masonry and square or rectangular in section, generally having a horizontal
molding representing a capital at the springing of the arch. Sometimes piers have vertical
shafts attached to them, and may also have horizontal moldings at the level of the base.
Columns
Columns are an important structural feature of Romanesque architecture. attached
shafts are also used structurally and for decoration. Monolithic columns cut from a single
piece of stone were frequently used in Italy, as they had been in Roman and Early Christian
architecture.[1]
They were also used, particularly in Germany, when they alternated between
more massive piers. Arcades of columns cut from single pieces are also common in
structures that do not bear massive weights of masonry, such as cloisters, where they are
sometimes paired.

9. Ambulatory
in church architecture the term usually refers to a walkway behind the high altar,
linking it with chapels at the east end of the church and with aisles either side of
the chancel.
Alter
The holiest part of a church. In the medieval period the altar was a table or
rectangular slab made of stone or marble, often set upon a raised step. After
the Reformation the stone altars were replaced by wooden communion tables.
Crossing
The point where the chancel, nave, and transepts meet. The crossing junction
often involves an elaborate system of arches, as each arm of the church must
be supported where it meets the others. In some churches the arches
supporting the crossing rise up to form a lantern tower above the crossing. The
interior of these crossing towers can be highly decorated, as at Ely Cathedral.
Transverse
The transverse arms of a church. Most churches were aligned east-west, with
the chancel at the east end and a nave at the west. Larger churches
augmented these two main sections with transerve sections on a north-south
axis. Transepts could be short, little more than the depth of a small chapel, or
as lengthy as a small church in itself! The point where transepts join the nave
and chancel is known as the crossing.
Apse
The polygonal or semi-circular end of a church, usually roofed with a vaulted ceiling or a dome. In
ancient Rome the basilica had an apse at both ends and this style became the norm in early
Christian churches. Medieval churches, particularly on the European continent, had one or more
apses at the eastern end of the church. These were generally rounded in Europe, but a square
termination was more common in Britain.

10. Clerestory
An upper story of a church, raised above the level of the aisles. The
clerestory is often pierced with large windows, admitting welcome light
into the nave. Many medieval churches were initially constructed without
clerestories, but growing wealth and improved architectural techniques
during the medieval period led to expansion upward, pushing the height of
the nave up above the aisles, with the addition of a clerestory with
windows. In some large churches the clerestory is topped with a third
story, called a triforium, often with blank arcading in place of windows.
Canopy
A projecting covering or hood, usually above a statue, altar, or tomb. The
most elaborate canopies are often seen over tomb openings or recesses.
Crypt
An underground (or partly underground) chamber, usually located beneath
the chancel, for holy relics and burials. Crypts could be extremely large and
might contain one or more altars in separate chapels. Crypts might hold the
shrine of a saint, and thus woulds have to be large enough to
accommodate pilgrims coming to pray at the shrine.

11. Reference
http://www.slideshare.net/maggmiss/romanesque-architecture-english-vocabulary
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romanesque_architecture
https://global.britannica.com/technology/corbel-table
http://www.britainexpress.com/church-history.htm?term=Transept