ROMANESQUE GLOSSARY
ABBATIAL:	a church which at one time belonged to the abbey, even if it no longer existed.
ACANTHUS:	a Mediterranean aromatic plant, the frayed and curled leaves of which were used as a decorative model throughout antiquity (on Corinthian capitals). Forming a recurrent decorative theme of the Romanesque era.
APSE:	area of circular or polygonal shape, covered by a vault, which is located behind the altar.
ARCADE:	an opening over which there is an arch or a series of arches.
ARCH:	curved architectural element which joins two parts of a construction. Which an either be:- round headed arch ( a perfect semi-circle)- pointed arch (the high part forming an angle)- horseshoe shaped (the diameter exceeding the opening).
(SMALL) APSE:	Smaller apses which complete the main one.
ARCHITRAVE:	a horizontal element placed over a door. Often decorated with sculptured work.
ARCHIVAULT:	architectonic element which forms a feature of the spans of barrel vaults. Of similar form to the pilaster strip, departing from the capitals and the pilasters and which crossed the vault.
BASILICA:	Church built according to the plan of ancient buildings. Generally rectangular and which may have one or more naves.
BAY:	Sections into which the nave of a church is divided, generally by columns or pillars. Can be counted by following the longitudinal axis.
BENEDICTINE:	plan of a church in which the apse and the chapels are parallel.
BLIND ARCH:	arch applied to a single wall for purely ornamental purposes.
CAPITAL:	The upper part of a pillar or a column, often decorated with sculpture work.
CAPITULAR:	(hall) a place where religious people met up to listen to a reading of a chapter of the gospel.
CHANCEL:	the area reserved for the clergy, behind the high altar, in the extension of the nave. It was were the religious chants were sung and often also included the choir stalls.
CISTERCIAN:	relating to the Order of Citeaux, founded by Bernardo di Chiaravalle. The buildings are very severe in appearance and lack any ornamentation.
CLOISTER:	part of the monastery, consisting of arches arranged around a central courtyard or a garden. Usually set aside for the religious.
CLUNIAC:	relating to the order of Cluny. Featuring an elegant and ornamental architecture.
CROSS:	part of the church where the central nave and the transept joined. It can either be covered by a dome or dominated by a tower.
CRYPT:	from the Greek word «hide». The underground part of a church in which the relics of saints were often hidden.
DEAMBULATORY:	semi-circular passage along the chancel, behind the upper altar. Of large size especially in pilgrimage churches to allow access to the relics.
DOME:	round shaped vault. It may be laid over a tambour, wells or sprandels.
FRESCO:	a wall painting technique in which the coloured pigments are applied to a damp wall, so that they form an integral part of the same.
GOTHIC:	architectural style featuring the generalized use of the ogival arch and large wall openings. It came into use as from the XIII century.
KEYSTONE:	the central supporting stone of an arch. It is of trapezoidal form.
MANDORLA:	painted or sculpted form, which enclosed a personage in order to enhance it. Having a symbolic value and usually used around the figure of Christ and, more rarely, around that of the Virgin Mary.
MULTI-HALL CHURCH:	a church in which the naves are all of the same height.
NARTHEX:	part of the church opposite the apse, originally used to house the faithful who had not been christened.
NAVE:	Main part of the church with a longitudinal body, located between the entrance and the sanctuary, where the faithful collect.
PANTOCRATOR:	representation of Christ in glory located in a "mandorla" and surrounded by the symbols of the four evangelists (the "Tetramorphous") and by angels or saints.
PIER:	architectonic element which is a feature or a support of a wall or a pillar.
PILASTER STRIP:	vertical wall reinforcement, with minimum projection and lacking base and capital. Typical art of the Lombard masters, often connected by small blind arches. Also called: LOMBARD BANDS.
RETABLO:	vertical element positioned above an altar, or the wall behind the altar, with artistic decorative work.
SANCTUARY:	sacred part of a religious building. In Christian churches it also includes the chancel and upper altar.
SCRIPTORIUM:	in the Middle ages it was the area of the monastery in which one wrote. It later was used to describe particular schools of fine script or painting.
STEPPER CHURCH:	a church in which the vault of the central nave is higher than the lateral ones.
STORIED:	referring to ornaments and decorations which tell a story.
TEMPERA:	painting technique on a dry wall (as opposed to a fresco).
TRANSEPT:	the transversal part of the church forming a cross with the nave.
TRIBUNE:	Upper gallery located perpendicular to the central nave. Reserved for special types of worshippers.
TWO-LIGHT WINDOW:	Window consisting of two arch shaped parts divided by a central column. (Three light window if divided into three parts).
TYMPANUM:	area (either semi-circular or triangular) which dominates a portal. Often with sculpted ornamental work.
VAULT:	The stone covering of a building. It may either be «barrel» type (of semi-circular section) or with «cross ribbing» (as the result of the inter-connection of two barrel vaults of identical diameter). The ogival vault only appeared with the advent of Gothic architecture.