GLOSSARY
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Larder:
an earthenware jar or other jar-like, stone vessel
placed into the ground for the storage of agricultural products.
Lite:
a wide narthex found in large catholica, where
ecclesiastical services also took place.
Machicolation:
an opening above the entrance to a
fortification or tower through which hot water or oil was poured
onto attackers.
Marble inlay:
floor constructed of small and large items of
coloured marble, usually set in geometrical shapes.
Marble revetment:
decorative marble panelling that clads a
wall.
Martyrium:
a
church, usually centrally planned, built above
the tomb of a saint or at a site associated with instances from
the life of Jesus or of a saint.
Masonry:
wall building system. There are three main types of
masonry, depending on its material and design: a) isodomic
masonry made of rectangular ashlars of the same height,
b) cloisonné masonry consisting of rectangular ashlars and
bricks, and c) rubble masonry of rough, unhewn, randomly
placed stone.
Metochion:
a small monastic dependency, where a limited
number of monks reside and take care of cultivation.
Molybdobull:
a document with a lead seal (bulla).
Mosaic:
method of creating images by using very small
pieces of coloured stone and glass. There are two types of
mosaics: mosaic floors that were created extensively in the
Early Christian period, and wall mosaics that covered wall and
vault surfaces throughout the Byzantine period.
Narthex:
a vestibule to the church’s nave. If there are two
narthexes, the external is called
exonarthex
and the internal
esonarthex.
Panel:
a stone plaque that was placed on the lower part of an
Early Christian chancel screen or Byzantine altar screen. At
least two panels were required for an altar screen, featuring
relief decoration on the side facing the mass.
Phiale:
stone bowl in which the holy water is blessed.
Sometimes it may be roofed with a vault supported by
columns, which is also called the phiale.
Pier:
a built, free-standing square or rectangular support.
Presbytery:
Early Christian name of the holy bema.
Propylon:
a structure roofing the entrance to a building.
Prothesis:
space N of the bema where the preparation of
Eucharistic elements takes place.
Protospatharios:
high-level Byzantine court title.
Rampart walk:
a passageway along the wall of a castle or
fortress, behind the battlements, used for the movement of
soldiers.
Decorative brick ornament (ceramoplastic ornament):
a
decorative element on the exterior façade of Early Byzantine
churches. It consists of various brick combinations, simple or
intricate.
Dedicatory inscription:
an inscription that mentions the
founder of a monument and provides details of a monument’s
date of construction and the artists who decorated it.
Diakonicon:
space S of the bema where votive utensils and
vestments are kept.
Diateichisma:
single wall blocking the narrowest part of a
promontory.
Dominicum:
a major church in a skete.
Donjon:
defence enclosure or tower within a castle or other
fortification. It was the ultimate place of refuge in case of siege.
Enclosure:
the wall defining externally a fortress or monastery.
Episcopal church:
a church that is a bishop’s see.
Eukterion:
building or hall for the gathering of the first
Christians.
Fryctoria:
a tower from where luminous and other signals
were transmitted.
Furnace:
a type of oven for the firing (baking) of ceramics.
Gallery:
interior gallery in a church.
Glazed ceramics:
typical example of Byzantine ceramics;
vessels are coated with a fine layer of vitreous substance.
Groin vault
: vault type consisting of two intersecting
semicircles forming an X.
Hermitage:
a place where hermits withdraw, usually a cave.
Hypocaust:
underground spaces in baths, where hot air
circulated and heated the halls.
Iconographical programme:
the selection and arrangement
of figures and scenes to be painted in a church.
Impost:
architectural component between the capital and
the arch, which was set on the impost. Imposts are mostly in
the shape of a reverse truncated pyramid providing a larger
seating surface for the overlying elements.
Intrados:
inner curve of an arch.
Kathisma:
a small metochion of a monastery.
Kneading room:
annex of Early Christian basilicas where the
kneading of the holy bread took place.
Koutroubion:
small, metal pilgrim’s ampulla for transferring
and keeping holy water, oil or holy myrrh.
Kufic ornaments:
ornaments imitating characters of the
ancient “Kufic” Arab script. When degenerated, they are called
pseudo-kufic.
