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Illustrated Glossary

of Classical Architecture
Illustrations from
The American Vignola
by Robert W. Ware
(Fourth Edition, 1905)
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X |
Y | Z
Abacus
In the Doric Order, the abacus is a square
slab that sits on top of the column's
capital and supports
thearchitrave or arch. The function of an
abacus is to broaden the support provided
by the column.

Arcade
A series of columns or piers spanned
by arches.

Arch
A rounded element that spans an opening
is called an arch. A basic element of
construction, arches apear in all types of
achitecture. Arches can be decorative or
structural. Early civilizations building
arches include the Mesopotamians (as
early as the 2nd millenium BCE) the
Egyptians and the Greeks. Roman
architecture adopted the arch from the
Estuscans and used it extensively in
building, bridges and their famous
aqueducts.

Architrave
The architrave is the lowest element of
the entablature,and rests on top columns.

Astragal
A small convex moulding.

Attic Base
A common base used for columns in
classical architecture, the Attic base is
made up of an upper and lower torus,
separated by a scotia with fillets.

Base
In architecture a base is the lowest part or
lowest main division of a structure. For
columns, the base is the lowest portion of
three parts, from top to bottom: the base,
the shaft and the captical. Typically,
Egyptian columns and Greek
Doric columns have no base and are
placed directly on the floor. Ionic columns
may have an elaborate base built up of
groups of mouldings andfillets.

Bead
A convex moulding, usually semi-circular.
There are a variety of different types of
beads. Examples include: angle bead,
nosing bead, double bead and so forth.

Beak
Moulding
Moulding shaped into a beak-like form.

Beam
A structural member that caries a load.
Beams are usually placed horizontally and
care a vertical load where the weight is
transferred to walls, girders or columns.

Bed-
mould
The moulding that appears under the
projecting cornice. It is considered part of
the cornice.

Bell
In reference to columns, the bell is a bell-
shaped part of the capital between the
neck moulding and the abacus. It is
common to columns in
the Corinthinian order where it is
decorative with acanthus leaves.

Cap
In architecture, a cap is the top element in
a division or structure.

Capital
The uppermost elements of a column. In
classical architecture capitals are one of

the most distinctive elements defining the
different orders.
Column
A vertical support element. In classical
architecture, columns are visually
distinctive elements that help define the
order.

Composite
Order
One of the five orders of classical
architecture developed by the Romans. As
the name implies, the Composite order
combines elements from
the Corinthian and Ionicorders.
More about Composite columns and the
Composite order

Concave
A curved surface like the interior of a
circle.

Cong
A concave moulding.

Convex
A round surface curved outward.

Corinthian
Order
One of the five orders of classical
architecture. Typically, Corinthian
columns are slender and fluted. Their
capitals are bell-shaped and ornately
decorated with acanthus leaves.
More about Corinthian columns and the
Corinthian order

Cornice
The top element of the entablature
including the following elements:
the cyma, the corona and the bed-
moulding.

Corona
A component of the cornice that has a
vertical face and horizontal soffit.

Cyma
A moulding with a double curvature is
called a cyma or sometimes, a wave
moulding. Used as the uppermost element
in a cornice.

Cyma
Recta
A cyma moulding having an upper
concave curve and a lower convex curve

Cyma
Reversa
A cyma moulding having an upper convex
curve and a lower concave curve.

Cymatium
A small cyma is called a cymatium. When
a cyma is used as the crown moulding of
an entablature, it is called a cymatium.

Dentils
Tooth-like blocks used in a close repeating
pattern. Dentils are used in some Doric
Order buildings in place ofmutules.
Dentils also appear on the bed
moulding ofIonic, Corinthian and Compos
ite orders.

Die
On a pedestal, the die is a rectangular
block that separates cap from the base.

Doric
Order
One of the five orders of classical
architecture, which also
include: Tuscan, Ionic, Corinthian and Co
mposite. The Doric order was developed
in Greece and adopted by the Romans.
Identifying features include columns that
are stouter than the other orders, often 6
to 7 times as tall as the diameter at the
base. In Greece Doric columns rested
directly on the floor without the benefit of
a pedestal or base moulding. Roman Doric
columns tend to be slimmer and sit upon
an Attic base. The Doricentablature is
characterized by
the triglyphs andmetopes.
More on Doric columns and the Doric
order

Eaves
The edge of a roof. In most structures the
eaves project beyond the surface of the
wall protecting it from rain and snow.

Echinus
Decorative moulding. Used on columns in
classical architecture, the echinus sits
below the abacus and above the necking

Entabulat
ure
In classical architecture, the uppermost
elements supported by columns are
referred to as the entablature.
Components of the enblature include:
the architrave, thefrieze and the cornice.

Entasis
From the word "bowed," entasis describes
the subtle curve of a column.

Extrados
The convex curve formed by the outer
edge of an arch. The inner edge is called
the intrados.

Fascia
A flat horizontal surface. In classical
architecture, fascia are often used in
multiple bands, each projecting beyond
the one below.

Fillet
A narrow band with a vertical face. Fillets
are often interposed between curved
mouldings.

Fillet,
Sunk
A fillet that is depressed between two
other architectural elements.

Frieze
Sitting below the cornice and above
the architrave, the frieze is the central
element of the entablature. The frieze
may be left plain or decorated in relief.

Gable
The front face or projection created by a
pitched roof.

Gothic
Style
Gothic architecture developed in Europe
during the medieval period, from about
500 CE to 1500 CE. Evolving from
Romanesque architecture it fell from
vogue with the renewed interest in
classical architecture during the
Renaissance, from about 1400 CE to 1500
CE.

Hip
An inclined section of the roof connecting
two sloping roof planes that meet at
the ridge.

Ionic
Order
One of five orders of classical
architecture, the others
being: Tuscan, Doric, Corinthian and Com
posite. The Ionic and Doric styles were
widely used in ancient Greece and later
adopted by the Romans. Ionic columns
are characterized by volutes in the capital.
More about Ionic columns and the Ionic
order

Intrados
The inside curved soffit of an arch. The
opposite face is known as the extrados.

Jamb
The sides of a door or window frame.

Lean-to
The lean-to is one of the simplest roofs
formed by a single sloping plane.

Lintel
A horizontal beam spanning the opening,
such as one made by a door or window.

Modillion
Brackets that appear beneath the corona.
Frequently used in
the Corinthian and Composite order.

Modillion,

Block
Modillions
Rectangularly shaped modillions.

Mouldings
A variety of decortive strips. Mouldings
come in a variety of shapes and forms.

Mutule
A rectangular block that hangs from
the soffit of thecornice in the Doric order.
Mutules appear over the triglyphs.

Necking
On a Doric column, the necking appears as
a plain section beneath the capital and
above the astragal.

Ovolo
A convex moulding, among woodworkers
it is referred to as a "quarter round."

Parapet


Pedestal
In classical architecture columns may sit
on a pedestal, usually having a square die,
a base and cornice.

Pier
A square pillar or the part of a wall that
sits between doors or windows.

Plinth
The lowest part of the base of a column or
pedestal. The plinth helps to distribute
the weight born by the column more
evenly.

Post
A vertical element that may be used to
support walls or horizontal beams.

Reed
Sometimes called reed moulding or
reeding, a series of convex mouldings
running parallel.

Ridge
Two sloping roofs join to create a ridge.

Romanesqu
e Style
Develed in Italy and western Europe,
Romanesque architecture appeared after
the Roman classical period and prior to

the Gothic period.
Sea-shell
A decorative element in the shape of a
sea-shell.

Scotia
A concave moulding between two fillets.
A scotia is one of the elements used in
the Attic base of columns.

Shaft
The portion of a column between the
base and the capital.

Soffit
The underside of a roof formed
by eaves or a cornice.

Spandrel
The triangular space formed by
the extrados of an archand other wall
elements.

String
Course
Horizontal moulding usually made from a
series of complex profiles.

Tnia
A fillet positioned directly above
the architrave. Part of the entablature.

Three-
quarter
Hollow
Moulding shaped by a three-
quarter concave profile.

Three-
quarter
Moulding
Moulding shaped by a three-
quarter convex profile.

Thumb
Molding
Thumb-shaped moulding.

Torus
A semi-circular, convex moulding. The
torus is one of the distinctive elements in
the Attic base used by columns in classical
architecture.

Triglyph
A rectangular detail, representative of the
beams used in post and beam
construction. In the Doric order, regularly
spaced triglyphs appear on the frieze. The
spaces between the triglyphs are
called metopes.

Tuscan
Order
One of the five orders of classical
architecture. The Tuscan order was
developed in Rome and does not appear
in ancient Greece. Added to the classical
orders by Renaissance architectural
scholars who felt that the Tuscan order
predates the Greek Doric and Ionic.
Tuscan colums are unfluted with a simple
base and unadorned capital and
entablature.

Valley
The area formed between the ridges of
two adjoined roofs.

Valley
Horizontal
Valley
The area formed by the parallel ridges of
two roofs.

Vault
Vaults are formed by the continuarion of
an arch.

Volutes
A spriral form which is a distinctive
element of thecapital of Ionic columns.

Wave
Moulding
Moulding formed by two round
mouldings.





Update On Your Order & Leather Editions
Moulding Glossary: Egg and Dart
Moulding Glossary: Fillet
Posted on June 9, 2011 by Chris Schwarz

Dang. I had no idea that facial angle would evoke such an impassioned response.
Im still sorting out the online and off-line comments and will post a follow-up. In
the meantime, lets do an easy one (famous last words).

fillet (filit) A small flat area that separates individual mouldings. A narrow flat
band used for the separation of one moulding from another; a fascia.
Christopher Schwarz

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