| A | B |
|---|
| Acanthus | A broad-leafed plant with many spikes, used as a decorative pattern on Corinthian capitals |
| Adlocutio | Formal speech, often given by the emperor to his troops. |
| Adyton | Inner shrine within the cella with the statue of the god |
| Alcove | A vaulted recess in the wall of a room or structure |
| Allegorical | Representing the meaning of a picture with symbols |
| Apothesis | The occasion when someone (often an emperor) becomes a god or goddess after death. |
| Apse | A semi-circular space, usually at the end of a hall or basilica, often roofed with a half-domed |
| Ara | altar |
| Architrave | Horizontal element spanning two columns and forming the lowest part of the entablature. |
| Atmospheric perspective | A device for creating the illusion of distance by making faraway objects appear hazier than objects in the foreground |
| Attic | The upper portion of a triumphal arch above the piers |
| Axial | Having an imaginary line dividing a plan/diagram |
| Baroque | A term transferred from 17th C art suggesting ornamental enrichment and elaboration for its own sake |
| Bollard | A short post used for securing ropes |
| Circa | approximately |
| Capital | The upper section of a column forming a transition between the vertical shaft and the horizontal elements of the architrave |
| Caryatid | A female figure used as a support or as a replacement for columns |
| Cavea | The space in a theatre where the seats were placed |
| Cella | The central room of a temple where the image of the deity was placed |
| clerestory | Upper part of a wall above the level of adjacent aisles pierced with windows to light the central room |
| Coffers | Sunken panels in a ceiling or dome interior |
| Colonnade | A row of columns either surrounding a temple or standing alone or fronting a covered walkway. |
| Concave | The surface is curved like the exterior of a circle- curves out |
| Convex | The surface is curved like the interior of a circle (curves in) |
| Corbel | A block of stone projecting from the upper part of a building to support a weight |
| Corinthian Order | The most ornate of the three Greek Orders |
| Cornice | The top projecting part of the entablature below the pediment |
| cupola | dome |
| Dacians | A nation whose homeland lay on the north side of the lower Danube |
| Doric Order | One of the three Greek orders distinguished by its plain capital and frieze of triglyph and metope |
| Elliptical | Oval-shaped |
| Engaged | Half columns attached to and projecting from a wall |
| Entablature | The architecture above the column capital consisting of architrave frieze and cornice |
| Façade | The front or exterior appearance of a building |
| Flute | Vertical channels or grooves carved on shafts of columns |
| Hexastyle | six columns |
| impost | The upper horizontal part of a pier carrying the arch |
| Ionic | One of the Greek orders having a carved volute or scroll-shaped capital |
| Lictor | A Roman official holding the Fasces who accompanied the emperor |
| Mosaic | An artwork consisting of decoration made by joining minute pieces of stone |
| Mythical | Having figures from myth and legend |
| Niche | Recess in wall often containing a statue |
| Oculus | eye |
| peripteral | Having columns all round the sides of the building |
| Personification | Giving human shape to an idea of place |
| Pier | Freestanding masonry support part of an arch |
| Pilaster | Rectangular columns attached to the sides of walls not freestanding |
| Podium | High basement to Roman temple with steps at main end only ensures temple is raised |
| Prostyle | Having a row of columns in front of the cella walls |
| Pseudo-peripteral | Having engaged columns on the sides and rear walls |
| Quadriga | A chariot drawn by four horses abreast often a decoration on the top of triumphal arches |
| Relief | Carving into the surface of a block of material |
| Roundel | A disc or medallion with decoration |
| Spandrel | The triangular space formed on the façade between the curve of the arch and the horizontal attic and vertical pier |
| Stucco | Plaster on the walls or ceilings |
| Trapezoidal | Having a four sided shape with only two sides parallel |
| Triumphal imagery | Motifs of military victory |
| Vault | The arched roof of a passage or room |
| Opus tessellatum | A mosaic floor laid with tesserae |
| Opus signinum | A mortar mixture of crushed brick and lime used as paving or to create a flat surface for mosaic floor. |
| Opus sectile | A form of decorative paving created from geometric sections of stone assembled to create a repeating pattern. |
| Opus caementicium | Roman concrete |
| Tesserae | Small cubes of stone used to create opus tessellatum mosaic flooring. |
| Frigidarium | The cold room of a Roman bath |
| Laconica | Super heated room in a Roman bath |
