Abbess a Religious Community Under the Direction of an Abbot (For Monks) Or an Abbess (For Nuns). Abbey A
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abbess A religious community under the direction of an abbot (for monks) or an abbess (for nuns). abbey A religious community under the direction of an abbot (for monks) or an abbess (for nuns). abbot A religious community under the direction of an abbot (for monks) or an abbess (for nuns). alternatesupport system In church architecture, the use of alternating wall supports in the nave, usually piers and columns or compound piers of alternating form. benedictional A Christian religious book containing bishops’ blessings. Book of Hours A Christian religious book for private devotion containing prayers to be read at specified times of the day. breviary A Christian religious book of selected daily prayers and psalms. canon table A concordance, or matching, of the corresponding passage of the four Gospels as compiled by Eusebius of Caesarea in the fourth century. Caroline minuscule The alphabet that Carolingian scribes perfected, from which our modern alphabet was developed. Carolingian (adj.) Pertaining to the empire of Charlemagne (Latin, Carolus Magnus) and his successors. carpet page In early medieval manuscripts, a decorative page resembling a textile. castellum German, “western entrance structure.” The facade and towers at the western end of a medieval church, principally in Germany. In contemporary documents the westwork is called a castellum (Latin, castle or fortress) or turris (tower). cloison French, “partition.” A cell made of metal wire or a narrow metal strip soldered edgeup to a metal base to hold enamel, semiprecious stones, pieces of colored glass, or glass paste fired to resemble sparkling jewels. cloisonné A decorative metalwork technique employing cloisons; also, decorative brickwork in later Byzantine architecture. cloister A monastery courtyard, usually with covered walks or ambulatories along its sides. colophon An inscription, usually on the last page, providing information regarding a book’s manufacture. crossing The space in a cruciform church formed by the intersection of the nave and the transept. crossing square The area in a church formed by the intersection (crossing) of a nave and a transept of equal width, often used as a standard module of interior proportion. evangelist One of the four authors (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) of the New Testament Gospels. fibula (pl. fibulae) A decorative pin, usually used to fasten garments. Gospels The four New Testament books that relate the life and teachings of Jesus. HibernoSaxon An art style that flourished in the monasteries of the British Isles in the early Middle Ages. Also called Insular. insular lectionary A book containing passages from the Gospels, arranged in the sequence that they are to be read during the celebration of religious services, including the Mass, throughout the year. module A basic unit of which the dimensions of the major parts of a work are multiples. The principle is used in sculpture and other art forms, but it is most often employed in architecture, where the module may be the dimensions of an important part of a building, such as the diameter of a column. Mozarabic Referring to the Christian culture of northern Spain during the time Islamic caliphs ruled southern Spain. Ottonian (adj.) Pertaining to the empire of Otto I and his successors. Pentateuch The first five+ books of the Old Testament. psalter A book containing the Psalms. reliquary A container for keeping relics. repoussé Formed in relief by beating a metal plate from the back, leaving the impression on the face. The metal is hammered into a hollow mold of wood or some other pliable material and finished with a graver. See also relief. sacramentary A Christian religious book incorporating the prayers priests recite during Mass. scriptorium (pl. scriptoria) The writing studio of a monastery. stave A wedgeshaped timber; vertically placed staves embellish the architectural features of a building. tumulus (pl. tumuli) Burial mound; in Etruscan architecture, tumuli cover one or more subterranean multichambered tombs cut out of the local tufa (limestone). Also characteristic of the Japanese Kofun period of the third and fourth centuries. turris German, “western entrance structure.” The facade and towers at the western end of a medieval church, principally in Germany. In contemporary documents the westwork is called a castellum (Latin, castle or fortress) or turris (tower). westwork German, “western entrance structure.” The facade and towers at the western end of a medieval church, principally in Germany. In contemporary documents the westwork is called a castellum (Latin, castle or fortress) or turris (tower). .