Early Christian – Romanesque Architecture

Arch. Josephine Sandy R. Lu

UM CAFAE
HISTORICAL TIMELINE OF ARCHITECTURE

Egyptian Byzantine

Pre-Historic Greek Roman Early Christian Romanesque Gothic Renaissance 18th-19th C: 20th C:
Revival Modern

Near East Islamic

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

HISTORICAL TIMELINE OF ARCHITECTURE

Egyptian

Pre-Historic Greek Roman Early Christian

Near East

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

EARLY CHRISTIAN

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

EARLY CHRISTIAN: GEOGRAPHICAL INFLUENCE
 Christianity had its
birth in Judea,
Eastern provinces of
the Roman Empire.

 Early Christian
Architecture was
influenced by the
existing Roman art
ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)
EARLY CHRISTIAN: GEOLOGICAL INFLUENCE
 Ruins of the Roman
buildings provided quarry
where materials were
obtained

 Influenced the style for

construction, decoration for
columns & other architectural
features as well as fine
sculpture and mosaic from
older building which were
turned into Basilican churches
of the new faith
ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)
EARLY CHRISTIAN: CLIMATIC INFLUENCE
 The climatic conditions of Roman provinces as Egypt, Syria,
and North Africa where Christianity was established were more
or less varied, and naturally modified the style in those
countries where the fiercer sun and hotter climate necessitated
small windows and other Eastern features.

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

EARLY CHRISTIAN: RELIGIOUS INFLUENCE
 Christianity spread out rapidly and
was an important factor in the
development of early Christian
architecture & inspired the
building of some of the greatest
architectural monuments
 Constantine & Licinus issued their
celebrated edict of Milan giving
Christianity equal rights with
other religions & Constantine
made it the official religion

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

EARLY CHRISTIAN: SOCIAL-POLITICAL
INFLUENCE
 Constantine was the prime character but was not proclaimed
Emperor; he removed his empire from Rome to Byzantium
and developed a new style of Architecture

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

EARLY CHRISTIAN: HISTORICAL INFLUENCE
 The final phase of Roman Architecture from 4th to 6th Century,
primarily in church building

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

EARLY CHRISTIAN: ARCHITECTURAL
CHARACTER
 Early Christian Architecture is basically Roman in character
but executed it through:
a) SIMPLICITY IN DESIGN
b) COARSENESS IN EXECUTION

 impressive and dignified

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

EARLY CHRISTIAN: ARCHITECTURAL
FEATURES
 contributed in the
development of “ribbed
vaulting & arcades &
timber trussed roof”
 used bell tower or
“campanile” in their
exterior
 usually with 3-5 aisles
covered by a simple
trussed roof.

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

EARLY CHRISTIAN: ARCHITECTURAL
FEATURES
 contributed in the
development of “ribbed
vaulting & arcades & timber
trussed roof”
 used bell tower or
“campanile” in their exterior
 usually with 3-5 aisles
covered by a simple trussed
roof.

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

EARLY CHRISTIAN: ARCHITECTURAL
FEATURES
 either closely spaced columns carrying
the entablature (trabeated) or more
widely spaced columns carrying semi-
circular arches known as “archivolt”.
 Uses long rows of “off-repeated”
columns from entry to sanctuary for a
long Church appearance.
 An “arch of triumph” (transaction thru
death to life eternal) gave entrance to
Sanctuary with the high altar at the
corner
ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)
EARLY CHRISTIAN: EXAMPLES
1.) BASILICAN CHURCHES
 Roman basilicas as models
 Usually erected over the burial
place of the saint to whom it was
dedicated
 Unlike Greek and Roman temples
which sheltered gods, the purpose
of the Christian church was to
shelter worshippers

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

EARLY CHRISTIAN: EXAMPLES
1.) BASILICAN CHURCHES

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

EARLY CHRISTIAN: EXAMPLES
1.) BASILICAN CHURCHES
 Came in a complex, with cathedral, belfry or campanile,
and baptistery
 Fine sculptures and mosaics worked into new basilicas
 Paid little regard to external architectural effect
 Entrance at west
 Priest stood behind altar, facing east

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

EARLY CHRISTIAN: EXAMPLES
1.) BASILICAN CHURCHES
 ATRIUM or open forecourt surrounded by arcades
 NARTHEX, covered area for penitents
 NAVE, lighted by a clerestory of small windows
 3 or 5 AISLES, side aisles half-width of nave
 separate galleries for women on opposite sides of the nave

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

EARLY CHRISTIAN: EXAMPLES
1.) BASILICAN CHURCHES
 "arch of triumph" symbolizing
transition through death into eternal
life
 altar under BALDACHINO
 APSE (sanctuary) lined with marble
slabs
 BEMA, raised stage for clergy

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

EARLY CHRISTIAN: EXAMPLES
1.) BASILICAN CHURCHES
 choir, enclosed by CANCELLI or low
screen walls
 AMBO, pulpit on either side of choir, from
which the gospel and epistle was read

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

EARLY CHRISTIAN: EXAMPLES
1.) BASILICAN CHURCHES

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

EARLY CHRISTIAN: EXAMPLES
1.) BASILICAN CHURCHES

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

EARLY CHRISTIAN: EXAMPLES
1.) BASILICAN CHURCHES

Old St. Peter’s Basilica

 erected by Constantine near the
site of the marytrdom of St. Peter
in the circus of Nero

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

EARLY CHRISTIAN: EXAMPLES
1.) BASILICAN
CHURCHES

Basilica of
Constantine, Germany
 “Aula Palatina”
 contains the largest
extant hall from
antiquity
 World Heritage Site
ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)
EARLY CHRISTIAN: EXAMPLES
1.) BASILICAN
CHURCHES

Basilica of Constantine,
Germany

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

EARLY CHRISTIAN: EXAMPLES
1.) BASILICAN
CHURCHES

St. Paolo Fouri Le Mura,

Rome
 - largest & most
impressive among all
basilican churches

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

EARLY CHRISTIAN: EXAMPLES
1.) BASILICAN
CHURCHES

St. Paolo Fouri Le

Mura, Rome

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

EARLY CHRISTIAN: EXAMPLES
1.) BASILICAN CHURCHES

Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome

 Built by Pope Sixtus III
 Only church where there is
evidence that it was originally a
pagan basilica
 One of the most typical basilican
churches
ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)
EARLY CHRISTIAN: EXAMPLES
2.) BAPTISTERY
 Used only for sacrament of
baptism, on festivals of Easter,
Pentecost and Epiphany
 Large separate building from
church, sometimes adjoined
atrium

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

EARLY CHRISTIAN: EXAMPLES
2.) BAPTISTERY

The Baptistery of Constantine,

Rome
 by Sixtus III, dedicated to
Constantine
 oldest among the Italian
Baptisteries

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

EARLY CHRISTIAN: EXAMPLES
3.) TOMBS & CATACOMBS
 Christians objected to cremation,
insisted on burial on consecrated
ground
 Land for burials had become
scarce and expensive
 Monumental tombs became
expressions of faith in immortality

Tomb of Galla Placida,

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)
Ravenna
EARLY CHRISTIAN: EXAMPLES
3.) TOMBS & CATACOMBS
 Cemeteries or catacombs were
excavated below ground
 Several stories extending
downwards
 Usually domed and enriched with
lavish mosaic decorations
 Walls and ceilings were lavishly
decorated with paintings mixing
pagan symbolism with scenes
from the bible
ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)
EARLY CHRISTIAN: EXAMPLES
3.) TOMBS & CATACOMBS

Catacomb of Domitilla
 oldest
 one of the two largest of
Rome’s 40 or so secret
underground Christian
burial networks.

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

EARLY CHRISTIAN: EXAMPLES
3.) TOMBS & CATACOMBS

The Crypt of the Popes

(Catacombs of St. Callixtus,
Rome)
 most important and venerated
crypt of the cemetery, called "the
little Vatican" as it was the official
burial place of nine popes and,
probably, of eight dignitaries of
Rome's
ARCH. 3rd century Church
JSRLU (UM CAFAE)
EARLY CHRISTIAN: TERMINOLOGY
 AMBULATORY – a passageway  ORATORY – a small private chapel
around the apse of church furnished w/ an altar and a crucifix
 ANTEPODIUM – a seat behind the  REREDOS – an ornamental screen or
choir reserved for the clergy
wall at the back of an altar
 BEMA – a stage reserved for the
clergy  TRANSEPT –the portion of a church
crossing the main axis at the right
 CHEVET – the apse, ambulatory, & angle & forming a cruciform plan
radiating terminal of a church
 CLERESTOREY – an upper stage in
 TRIBUNE – a slightly elevated
the church w/ windows above the platform or dais for the speaker
adjacent roof  TRIFORIUM – roof over the aisles
 CLERGY – priest with the religious below the clerestorey
elders
 SEPULCHER – a tomb or a
 DAIS – a raised platform reserved receptacles for relics especially in a
for the seating of speakers or Christian altar
dignitaries
ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)
HISTORICAL TIMELINE OF ARCHITECTURE

Egyptian Byzantine

Pre-Historic Greek Roman Early Christian

Near East

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

BYZANTINE

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

BYZANTINE: GEOGRAPHICAL INFLUENCE
 Byzantium, renamed Constantinople after its Imperial
founder, and also called “New Rome”, now as
“Istanbul”
 Has a commanding and central position for the
government of the expanding Roman Empire.
 at the intersection of two great highways of
commerce: the water highway between the Black Sea
and Mediterranean, and the trade route between
Europe and Asia

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

BYZANTINE: GEOLOGICAL INFLUENCE
 no good building stone
 local materials such as clay for bricks and rubble
for concrete were employed
 Other materials more monumental in character had
to be imported

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

BYZANTINE: CLIMATIC INFLUENCE
 Semi– tropical climate: flat roofs used & combined
w/ oriental domes, with small windows often high
up in unbroken walls, sheltering arcades
surrounded the open courts
 Adapted old methods of building to the climate of
new capital

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

BYZANTINE: RELIGIOUS INFLUENCE
 Christianity was established as the state religion of
the Roman Empire - chief buildings erected in
Byzantium, were churches: basilican Early Christian
type of church was merged in the domical
Byzantine type

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

BYZANTINE: RELIGIOUS INFLUENCE
 Political Division between
East and West, followed by
the division of Churches,
due to “ICONOCLASTIC
MOVEMENT” (decree to
ban the use of statues as
means of representations
either of human or animal
forms) & this made painting
figures in decoration a
substitute.
ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)
BYZANTINE: SOCIAL-POLITICAL INFLUENCE
 Ways of life and corrupt conditions contributed
greatly to the fall of Roman Empire.

Prominent Figures considered movers of this

Architecture:
 THEODOSIUS II - built several military gates and towers
(defense against the Goths & Huns)
 JUSTINIAN - responsible for rebuilding of St. Sophia “Divine
Wisdom“ which now turned to a Moslem Mosque.

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

BYZANTINE: SOCIAL-POLITICAL INFLUENCE
 Simplicity in external design w/c resulted in the use
of clay & rubble.
 Richness in internal treatment importing “marble”

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

BYZANTINE: ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES
 Fusion of domical
construction with
classical columnar style
 Domes of various types
placed over square
compartments using
pendentives

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

BYZANTINE: ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES
3 types of dome:
 SIMPLE DOME – dome & pendentives were part of the
same sphere.
 COMPOUND DOME – dome is not a part but rises
independently above them.
 MELON-SHAPED DOME/ ONION OR BULBOUS – consist of
curved flutings which avoided the necessity of pendentives

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

BYZANTINE: ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

BYZANTINE: ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES
 Semi-circular arches
rest directly on
columns, with
capitals able to
support springing of
arches
 Plans for churches &
baptisteries; rounded
arches, elaborated
columns & colours

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

BYZANTINE: ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES
 Features the grouping
of small domes or
semi-domes around a
large central dome
 Extensive use of
“mosaic decoration”

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

BYZANTINE: EXAMPLES
S. Sophia, Constantinople
 Hagia Sophia "divine wisdom“
 built by Emperor Justinian
 designed by Anthemius of
Tralles and Isidorus of Miletus
 Perfection of Byzantine style
 a former Greek Orthodox
patriarchal basilica, later an
imperial mosque, and now a
museum in Istanbul, Turkey
ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)
BYZANTINE: EXAMPLES
S. Sophia, Constantinople

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

BYZANTINE: EXAMPLES
S. Mark, Venice
 An exterior quality all its own:
blending of features from many
foreign lands
 Glittering, resplendent façade
 Exterior enriched by fine
entrance portals, mosaic and
marble decorations
 reflects the art of Byzantium
which so largely influenced the
architecture of Venice
ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)
BYZANTINE: EXAMPLES
S. Mark, Venice
 lies at the eastern end of the
Piazza San Marco, adjacent and
connected to the Doge's Palace
 For its opulent design, gold
ground mosaics, and its status
as a symbol of Venetian wealth
and power, from the 11th
century on the building has
been known by the nickname
Chiesa d'Oro (Church of gold).
ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)
BYZANTINE: EXAMPLES
S. Theodore, Constantinople
 a perfect specimen of a miniature
Byzantine church, although now a
mosque

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

BYZANTINE: EXAMPLES
The Little Metropole
Cathedral, Athens
 the smallest building in the
world dignified by the name
of cathedral, (only 38 ft. by
about 25 ft.) and the dome,
supported on a high
octagonal drum (only 9 ft. in
diameter)

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

HISTORICAL TIMELINE OF ARCHITECTURE

Egyptian Byzantine

Pre-Historic Greek Roman Early Christian Romanesque

Near East

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

ROMANESQUE

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

ROMANESQUE: GEOGRAPHICAL INFLUENCE
 On the decline of the Roman Empire, the Romanesque
style grew up in those countries of Western Europe
which had been under the rule of Rome, and
geographical position determined many of the
peculiarities of the style in each country.
 combination of Roman & Byzantine Architecture
basically roman in style

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

ROMANESQUE: GEOLOGICAL INFLUENCE
 The use of local materials, whether stone or brick,
marble or terra-cotta, as well as of ready-made
columns and other features from old Roman buildings

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

ROMANESQUE: CLIMATIC INFLUENCE
Northern Portion: Dull climate contributed to the use of:
 Large windows to admit light
 High pitch roof to throw off rain & snow

Southern Portion:
 Small windows to minimize sun shading
 Flat roof

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

ROMANESQUE: RELIGIOUS INFLUENCE
 Christianity, the chief source of education and culture
and the erection of a church often resulted in the
foundation of a city ; for the Papacy had been rising to
great power and influence

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

ROMANESQUE: RELIGIOUS INFLUENCE
 Monastic Orders: promoted new methods in
agriculture, and exercised its influence on
architecture; science letters, art, and culture were the
monopoly of the religious Orders. The schools
attached to monasteries trained youths for the service
of religion; monks and their pupils were often the
designers of cathedrals, and architecture was almost
regarded as a sacred science

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

ROMANESQUE: RELIGIOUS INFLUENCE
CHIEF MONASTIC ORDERS:
 The Benedictine Order
 The Cluniac Order
 The Cistercian Order
 The Augustinian Order
 The Premonstratensian Order
 The Carthusian Order
 The Military Orders: Knights Templars and Knights Hospitallers
 The Friars
 The Jesuits
ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)
ROMANESQUE: SOCIAL-POLITICAL INFLUENCE
 Establishment of “Feudal System”: Landlord build
“castle” to separate them & protect them from the
peasants. These castle was made with man – made
canals.

 Feudalism: a military and political system based on

personal loyalty (vassal and lieges)

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

ROMANESQUE: HISTORICAL INFLUENCE
 Roman Empire in the West had already come to an end
in A.D. 475. The election of the first Frankish King
Charlemagne (A.D. 799) as Holy Roman Emperor
marks the beginning of a new era
 next two hundred years little progress was made, and
it has been suggested that this was owing to a popular
superstition that the millennium would bring the end
of the world

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

ROMANESQUE: ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER
 SOBER & DIGNIFIED - Opposite of Roman
character

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

ROMANESQUE: ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES
 Rib & Panel Vaulting -
framework of ribs support
thin stone panels
 Use of Massive wall
structures , Round Arches &
Powerful Vaults
 Latin Cross Plan in churches
 Use of Corbelled Arches
found underneath the eaves
of a church

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

ROMANESQUE: ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES
Two Types of Vaulting -
supported by tiers
2. Sexpartite (six – part
1. Quadripartite (four –
part vaulting) vaulting)

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

ROMANESQUE: EXAMPLES
1.) CATHEDRALS
• Mostly Basilican in plan

2.) BAPTISTERIES
• Large, separate buildings usually octagonal in plan and
connected to the cathedral by the atrium
• Used 3 times a year: Easter, Pentecost, Epiphany

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

ROMANESQUE: EXAMPLES
3.) CAMPANILES
• Straight towers shafts, generally standing alone
• Served as civic monuments, symbols of power, watch towers
4.) CASTLES
5.) FORTIFICATIONS & TOWN WALLS
6.) MONASTIC BUILDINGS

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

ROMANESQUE: EXAMPLES
PISA CATHEDRAL
 The building depends
for its artistic effect
upon the beauty and
interest of its
ornamental features
rather than the promise
of logical development
into a new style which a
northern example
possesses

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

ROMANESQUE: EXAMPLES
PISA CATHEDRAL
 The building depends
for its artistic effect
upon the beauty and
interest of its
ornamental features
rather than the promise
of logical development
into a new style which a
northern example
possesses

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

ROMANESQUE: EXAMPLES
PISA CATHEDRAL

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

ROMANESQUE: EXAMPLES
BAPTISTERY
 designed by Dioti Salvi
 39.3 m circular plan in diameter
 Built of marble
 largest Baptistery in Italy
 The lower part is 12th century
Romanesque (with round
arches) and the upper parts are
predominantly 13th century
Gothic (with pointed arches)

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

ROMANESQUE: EXAMPLES
BAPTISTERY
 dome is covered in red tiles on
the west side and in lead slabs
on the east side

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

ROMANESQUE: EXAMPLES
BAPTISTERY
 Inside it is rather sombre and
plain
 attractive stained glass and a
magnificent pulpit carved by
Nicola Pisano
 renowned for its perfect
acoustics

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

ROMANESQUE: EXAMPLES
BAPTISTERY

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

ROMANESQUE: EXAMPLES
CAMPANILE
 a circular structure 52 feet in
diameter
 ornamented with eight stories of
arcades
 During its erection the
foundations gave way, thus
causing the tower to lean about
11 feet from the vertical
 Architect: Bonanno Pisano

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

ROMANESQUE: EXAMPLES
CAMPANILE

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

ROMANESQUE: EXAMPLES
Fountains Abbey, Yorkshire
 Britain's largest monastic ruin and
most complete Cistercian abbey is
a World Heritage site

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

ROMANESQUE: EXAMPLES
Fountains Abbey, Yorkshire

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

ROMANESQUE: EXAMPLES
Fountains Abbey,
Yorkshire
 The oldest part is
everything west of
the transept,
including the long
nave with large
cylindrical pillars
and round
Romanesque arches.

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

ROMANESQUE: EXAMPLES
Fortifications &
Townhalls
 All over Europe - 1500
castles in England in 11th
and 12th centuries
 Began as motte and bailey
earthworks
 Later became citadels with
stone curtain walls

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

ROMANESQUE: EXAMPLES
Fortifications & Townhalls

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

ROMANESQUE: EXAMPLES

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

ROMANESQUE: EXAMPLES
SPAIN
 Use of both Basilican and
Greek-cross forms
 Use of horseshoe arch

Santiago de Compostela
• Finest achievement of
Romanesque in Spain

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

ROMANESQUE: EXAMPLES
CENTRAL EUROPE

Worms Cathedral
 Eastern and western apses
and octagons
 2 circular towers flank each
 Octagon at crossing, with
pointed roof

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

ROMANESQUE: EXAMPLES
CENTRAL EUROPE

Worms Cathedral

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

ROMANESQUE: EXAMPLES
ENGLAND

Durham Cathedral
 Rib and panel vaulting
with pointed arches

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

ROMANESQUE: EXAMPLES
ENGLAND

Durham Cathedral
 Rib and panel vaulting
with pointed arches

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

ROMANESQUE: EXAMPLES
FRANCE
 Remains of old buildings were less abundant – they
had greater freedom of developing new style
 Rib-vaults and semi-circular or pointed arches over
the nave and aisles
 Timber-framed roofs of slate finish and steep slope to
throw off snow

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

ROMANESQUE: EXAMPLES
FRANCE

S. Madeleine,
Vezelay
 Earliest pointed
cross-vault in
France

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

ROMANESQUE: EXAMPLES
FRANCE

Abbey of St. Denis, near Paris

 Among the first instances of using
the pointed arch
 Ribbed vault, pointed arch and
flying buttresses successfully
combined

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

ROMANESQUE: EXAMPLES
FRANCE

Abbey of St.
Denis, near Paris

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

ROMANESQUE: TERMINOLOGY
 Motte – a steep mound of earth surrounded by a ditch and
surmounted by a timber stockade and tower
 Motte and Bailey – a Norman castle of the 10th to 12th centuries,
consisting of a motte placed within a bailey
 Bailey – the outer wall of a castle or the courtyard enclosed by it
 Palisade – a fence of pales set firmly in the ground for enclosure or
defense
 Pale – a pointed stick of stake
 Fortification – a defensive military work constructed for the
purpose of strengthening a position
 Bastion – a projecting part of a rampart or other fortification,
typically forming an irregular pentagon attached at the base to the
main work
ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)
ROMANESQUE: TERMINOLOGY
 Sally port – a gateway in a fortification permitting a large number
of troops to move rapidly from the besieged position and attack the
besieges
 Parapet – a defensive wall or elevation of earth or stone protecting
soldiers from enemy fire
 Castle – a fortified group of buildings usually dominating the
surrounding country and held by a prince or noble in feudal times
 Citadel – a fortress in a commanding position in or near a city, used
in the control of the inhabitants and in defense during attack or
siege
 Keep – the innermost and strongest structure or tower of a
medieval castle, used as a place of residence, especially in times of
siege. Also called donjon
ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)
ROMANESQUE: TERMINOLOGY
 Battlement - a parapet having a regular alternation of
merlons and crenels, originally for defense but later used as
a decorative motif. Also called embattlement
 Merlon – one of the solid parts between the crenels of a
battlement
 Crenel – any of the open spaces alternating with the merlons
of a battlement
 Embrasure – an opening, loophole or crenel, through which
missiles may be discharged
 Drawbridge - a bridge that can be raised, let down, or drawn
aside to prevent access or to permit passage beneath it
ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)
ROMANESQUE: TERMINOLOGY
 Moat – a broad deep ditch, usually filled with water, surrounding
the rampart of a fortified town, fortress or castle as protection
against assault
 Turret – a small tower forming part of a larger structure, frequently
beginning some distance above the ground. Also called tourelle
 Church - a building for public Christian worship
 Bema – a transverse open space separating the nave and the apse
of an early Christian church, later developing into the transept of
later cruciform churches
 Nave – the principal or central part of a church, extending from the
narthex to the choir or chancel and usually flanked by aisles
 Narthex – the portico before the nave of an early Christian or
Byzantine church, appropriated for penitents

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)

ROMANESQUE: TERMINOLOGY
 Baptistery – a part of a church or a separate building in which
baptism is administered
 Font – a basin, usually of stone, holding the water used in
baptism
 Campanile – a bell tower, usually one near but not attached to
the body of a church
 Wheel window – a rose window having distinctly radiating
mullions or bars
 Tympanum – the space between an arch and the horizontal
head of a door or window below, often decorated with
sculpture
ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)
ROMANESQUE: TERMINOLOGY
 Chevet – the rounded east end of a Gothic cathedral,
including the apse and ambulatory
 Apse – a semi-circular of polygonal projection of a building,
usually vaulted and used especially at the sanctuary or east
end of a church
 Cathedral – the principal church of a diocese, containing the
bishop’s throne called the cathedra

ARCH. JSRLU (UM CAFAE)