Glossary
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| Greek Term | English Term | French Term | Definition |
|---|---|---|---|
| agon | contest | épreuve | |
| akroterion pl. akroteria | - | acrotère | architectural element consisting of a pedestal and its supported decoration, it is located on a corner of the roof, or at the peak of a pediment |
| amazonomachy | - | - | a battle between Amazons and Greeks |
| anta | - | - | protuding extremity of a wall, usually thicker than the wall itself |
| - | architrave | architrave | architectural element constituting the lower part of the entablature and consisting of a horizontal beam resting directly on the columns |
| arkhaios | ancient | ancien | |
| arrhephoroi | - | - | young Athenian maidens selected among the nobility to assist the priestess of Athena Polias |
| cella | - | - | see naos, the term was also used to designate the entire inner building when it consisted of a naos and of another room |
| centauromachy | - | - | a battle between Centaurs and Lapiths |
| crepidoma | platform | plateforme | the set of platforms supporting a building, it includes the stereobate, the middle platform and the stylobate |
| - | entablature | - | architectural element of a building resting on the columns, it consists of the architrave, the frieze and the cornice |
| entasis | bulge | renflement | a very slight bulging approximately at the center of a column, it corrects the illusion of concavity produced by parallel straight lines |
| ergasterion | workshop | atelier | |
| eschara | grill | grille | a pit to receive sacrifices to the gods of the underworld |
| - | frieze | frise | architectural element constituting the middle part of the entablature (between the architrave and the cornice) and consisting of an alternance of metopes and triglyphs (Doric order) or of a band of relief (Ionic order) |
| gigantomachy | - | - | a battle between Gods and Giants |
| guttae | - | goutte | architectural element of the Doric order entablature, it usually consists of three cylinders placed under a regulae |
| heroon | hero shrine | - | sanctuary dedicated to a hero |
| metoikos | - | métèque | a foreigner residing in Attic and not recognised as an Athenian citizen |
| metope | metope | métope | architectural element of the Doric order entablature, it consists of a panel alternating with triglyphs in the frieze, it could be painted, sculptured or plain |
| naiskos | - | - | diminutive of the Greek word naos, it designates a small temple or a shrine |
| naos | - | - | room of a temple where the cult statue of the god was located |
| opisthodomos | - | - | the porch at the rear of the naos, it served as a back entrance into the temple |
| - | pediment | fronton | ornamented triangular end on the roof above a portico (pronaos and opisthodomos) of a temple, also applies to decorated gables of a profane building |
| peristylon | peristyle | péristyle | the group of columns around a building or surrounding the inner court of a building |
| pronaos | - | vestibule | the porch in the front of the naos, it served as the main entrance into the temple |
| propylon | gateway | entrée | monumental entrance to a sacred enclosure |
