Any where you see a greek column in Rome, you're going to see the entablature. The entablature is the horizontal lintel that goes across a row of columns. It consists of the cornice, frieze, and architrave. The cornice is the molding under a ceiling but around the wall. The frieze is the painted or sculpted broad horizontal piece below the cornice but above the architrave. Depending on the Greek order, the frieze varies. For example on an ionic column a common design is the egg and dart. The architrave is the main beam on top of the columns and is for decoration.

F Fresco

Figures dance across the sky, hair blowing in the holy wind. Their God cradles them in his loving arms while animals prance upon starry beaches filled with life.

This is a fresco. Frescos were extremely common in Ancient Rome and Greece. A Fresco is any mural of animals or of people painted on wet plaster. They were most likely to be seen on ceilings. On example is the Sistine chapel painting by michelangelo.

G Great Wall of China

1700 years. Fifty feet tall. Thirty feet wide. 3700 miles. A mircale.

Those are just a few words to describe The Great Wall of China. It was built under the Qin dynasty to protect China from the Mongol tribe. The emperor put any one he wanted to work. People building died from avalanches, disease, exhaustion, and starvation. But after 1700 years when the Zhou dynasty took over it was finally finished. Now it is the only man made structure that can be seen from space.

H Hexastyle

A common design for ancient roman, Egyptian, and Greek buildings was to have six columns on the portico. A portico is a porch leading to the entrance of a building. This design is called hexastyle.

I Ionic Column

As part of the second greek order the Ionic column consists of dentil moldings, sometimes fluting, and two volutes. The Ionic order was developed by Greek colonies in Asia Minor.

J Joist

Throughout history, horizontal support beams have been placed under ceilings and flooring to help hold them up. These are called joists. Without joists our floors will sink and cave in.

K Khufu Pyramid

You stand in its shadow, wondering at your place on Earth because in that moment you realize how small you are. And then when night creeps in, the massive structure turns into a ghostly black giant and then all you wonder is this one thing. How has it been around for so long and survived so many nights as a...ghost?

Built in Giza 2550 B.C, this pyramid stands 455 feet tall and took about 2.3 million stone blocks to build. Each block weighed 2-15 tons. It contains three burial chambers and is riddled with traps and tricks to keep grave robbers out.

L Lotus

The lotus was part of the Egyptian religion. It symbolized rebirth, creation, and the sun. But it also served other purposes such as ancient Egyptian architecture. The lotus was a used as a motif for designs as well a the capital of columns. Another way the lotus was used was for measuring high degrees. One lotus equaled 1000 degrees and two was 2000.

M Mosque

As the house of Allah, a mosque was and is a place for worship. The dome on top were commonly were the onion dome shape. The functions of a mosque are daily prayers, study of Qur'an, marriage ceremonies, funerals, and videos on Islam.

N Niche

A niche can be seen every where and was used greatly thoughout history. It is a small recess of a wall used for decoration to display ornaments such as statues.

O Oculus

The sun streams through the eye of the dome in sweeping storms of light spiraling around the steeps of air.

This is an oculus. An oculus is the opening at the top of a dome designed to bring in light. Also, the center of a volute on a Ionic column is called an oculus, eye, or disk.

P Pagoda

As a multiple tiered tower a pagoda has many rectangular buildings stacked on top of each other each with their own roof. Pagodas started in East Asia and are Buddhist temples for worship.

Q Quoin

Any side bricks of a wall are considered a quoin. The bricks are both for decoration and for structural purposes. They vary is size, shape, color, and texture.

R Reed House

Any common people who lived near marshes also lived in reed houses. They were reeds binded together to form a small simple hut.

S Stupa

A stupa is a Buddhist memorial mound that keeps a relic of Buddha to mark a sacred spot. Stupas are usually part of another building such as a Vihara.

T The Great Zimbabwe

Once a land sparkling with life, vibrant with happiness and color, The Great Zimbabwe is now a graveyard of lost dreams. Now a skeleton, ripped from the outside in. Eroding away into nothing. A mystery.

Meaning stone, The Great Zimbabwe was built by the Shona people in Africa out of stone and no motar which was almost impossible back then. The walls were over 35 feet high. The village could fit 10,000 people but by 450 no one lived there anymore. This is a mystery. Now all that is left is a stone tower and ruins of outer walls.

U Unity

Unity was very important in the ancient times and still is today. It is when all the classical orders are the same. For example if a temple is part Corinthian and part Doric there is no unity. If it is all Doric order then there is unity.

V Vihara

A vihara is a Buddhist monastery. It has a court yard with a main stupa and a verandah running along the court yard. A verandah is a roofed platform at ground level. A vihara also has small sleeping cells.

W Wat