Glossary

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Glossary of Greek Terms

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