acanthus
Herbaceous plant with prickly leaves; popular motif in architectural decoration.

aedicula
Small pedimental naiskos, either a free-standing construction or integrated into a larger building's facade.

anta capital
the upper end of an anta or pilaster

anta or pilaster, the
A shallow rectagular feature projecting from a wall, having a capital and a base and architecturally treated as a column.

arch, the
A curved structure, as a masonry, that covers openings in the stonework and is capable to supports the weight of material over an open space, as in a bridge, doorway, etc. It is often used as a decorative element.

architrave or epistyle
The lowest part of an entablature resting on the columns capitals and supporting the frieze.

astragal
A decorative motif that consists of half-round surfaces alterating with flat planes (fillets). It occurs oftenly on architectural elements, relief, under an ionic or lesbian cymation.

chalcidicum
Annex on the narrow end of a colonnade, stoa or basilica

corinthian order
The most elaborate of the ancient greek architectural orders. It was developed in the 4th century BC in Greece and it was extensively used in Roman architecture. It is similar to the Ionic order. Its capitals being four-sided and composed of a basket-shaped body decorated with volumes and rows of acanthus leaves.

crepis / crepidoma
The solid mass of stepped masonry serving as the visible base of a building. The crepidoma usually consists of three steps. The top step from which the columns spring is called the stereobate.

cyma / cymation
Moulding decoration with ovals or tri-cusps alternating with lotus flowers. It was meant to separate or to lay stress upon two surfaces. In ancient architecture we distinguish Doric, Ionic and Lesbian cymation, according to their decoration and section form.

entablature, the
The upper part of the classical order, that rests on the columns, it consists of the architrave, frieze and cornice.

fascia, ae
Ornamental band on an architrave or architvolt.

frieze (1. architecture), (2. painting)
1. The part of the entablature resting on the architrave and below the cornice. In the Doric order the frieze is decorated with two alternative motives, namely the triglyph and metope, while in the Ionic order the frieze is a decoratively carved band.2. Decorative horizontal band that sweeps parts of a vessel or the highest part of the walls in a room.

himation, the
Rectangular woolen (mainly) cloth that was worn over the chiton (cloak). It could be wrapped around the shoulders and the body in different ways and was fastened with a belt or with brooches.

keystone
The central stone of an arch or vault.

nymphaeum, the
Originally the sacred grotto dedicated to the Nymphs. During the Roman period the Nymphaea were monumental public fountain constructions, commissioned by wealthy citizens. During the Early Byzantine period they often adorned the fora (public spaces).

opus caementicium
Roman technique of constructing structures using concrete. It was spread in the east part of the Roman Empire after 50 BC.

orthostate
A course of blocks laid on edge, normally in the lower part of the wall of a building.

pediment, the
The triangular structure, over a building façade, between the horizontal entablature and the sloping roof, often decorated with sculptures, reliefs or painted figures.

pillar
Pier of square or rectangular cross-section.

pseudo-isodomic masonry
Masonry built of blocks of the same height within each course , but each course varying in height.

tympanum (lunette)
(Rom., Byz.) The arched panel (lunette) inside an arch or an arcosolium.

voussoir
The wedge-shaped stones in the masonry of arch or vault.