Illustrated Glossary Illustrations from

The American Vignola

by Robert W. Ware
of Classical Architecture (Fourth Edition, 1905)

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Abacus In the Doric Order, the abacus is a square
slab that sits on top of the column's capital
and supports the architrave 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 and fillets.

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 shaped into a beak-like form.
Moulding

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-moul The moulding that appears under the
d 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.
Composit One of the five orders of classical
e Order architecture developed by the Romans. As
the name implies, the Composite order
combines elements from
the Corinthian and Ionic orders.
More about Composite columns and the
Composite order

Concave A curved surface like the interior of a circle.

Congé A concave moulding.

Convex A round surface curved outward.

Corinthian One of the five orders of classical
Order 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 A cyma moulding having an upper concave
Recta curve and a lower convex curve

Cyma A cyma moulding having an upper convex

Reversa 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 of mutules. Dentils also
appear on the bed
moulding of Ionic, Corinthian and Composite
orders.
Die On a pedestal, the die is a rectangular block
that separates cap from the base.

Doric One of the five orders of classical

Order architecture, which also
include: Tuscan, Ionic, Corinthian and Comp
osite. 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
Doric entablature is characterized by
the triglyphs and metopes.
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 In classical architecture, the uppermost

ure elements supported by columns are referred
to as the entablature. Components of the
enblature include: the architrave,
the frieze 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, A fillet that is depressed between two other

Sunk 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 Gothic architecture developed in Europe
Style 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 One of five orders of classical architecture,

Order the others
being: Tuscan, Doric, Corinthian and Compos
ite. 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, Rectangularly shaped modillions.

Block
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 the cornice 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.

Develed in Italy and western Europe,

Romanesque Romanesque architecture appeared after the
Style 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 arch and other wall
elements.
String Horizontal moulding usually made from a
Course series of complex profiles.

Tænia A fillet positioned directly above

the architrave. Part of the entablature.

Three-qua Moulding shaped by a

rter three-quarter concave profile.
Hollow
Three-qua Moulding shaped by a
rter three-quarter convex profile.
Moulding
Thumb Thumb-shaped moulding.
Molding

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 One of the five orders of classical
Order 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 The area formed by the parallel ridges of two

Horizontal roofs.
Valley

Vault Vaults are formed by the continuarion of

an arch.
Volutes A spriral form which is a distinctive element
of the capital of Ionic columns.
Wave Moulding formed by two round mouldings.
Moulding