piscina in Roman construction, a reservoir. Also a pool or basin of water in a Roman bathroom.
platea any wide Roman street.
plethron an ancient Greek measure of length equal to 101% feet.
podium the plateau or platform on which Roman temples were built. Also, in a circus, the first or closest row of seats to the racecourse that was protected from the wild animal acts by a 10-foot trench.
polyandrion an ancient Greek monument or burial place dedicated to men killed in battle.
popina a Roman restaurant or tavern patronized by the lower classes.
porta the gateway to a Roman city.
posticum the back door of a Roman house.
postscenium the dressing rooms and storage rooms of the actors in Greek and Roman theaters.
pretorium the Roman residence of a governor.
propnigeum the sweat room furnace in a Greek gymnasium.
prothyron an entrance vestibule in a Greek house.
puteus in Roman construction, a manhole in an aqueduct. Also, a fountain in a Roman house.
robur a chamber below an underground dungeon where criminals were put to death.
ruderatio in Roman construction a common floor made of pieces of brick, stone, and tile.
sacrarium an in-house family shrine or chapel in Roman residences.
scabellum a Roman, freestanding pedestal.
scaena ductilis in Roman and Greek theater, a mobile screen that served as a scenic backdrop.
scalpturatum an ancient Roman pavement inlaid with patterned, colored marble.
scandula a Roman roof shingle.
scansorium Roman scaffolding.
senaculum a Roman council chamber.
specula a Roman watchtower and signal tower.
sphaeristerium part of a Roman gymnasium, a place for ball playing.
spica testacea an ancient Roman flooring, oblong tiles laid in a herringbone pattern.
spicatum opus Roman masonry set in a herringbone pattern.
spina the lengthwise barrier that divided a circus and around which athletes and charioteers raced.
spoliarium a room where the dead were dragged after being defeated in combat in a Roman amphitheater show.
spoliatorium in a Roman bath, a place for keeping the bathers' clothing.
stadium a sports arena, or a Roman measure of length equal to 607 feet.
sudatorium in ancient Rome, a sweat room used by athletes.
synoecia in ancient Greece, a dwelling shared by several families.
taberna a Roman booth, stall, or shop.
telonium a Roman customhouse.
tepidarium in Roman baths, a warm room. See caldarium, frigidarium.
thesaurus a Greek treasury house.
tholos any round building in Greek architecture.
thymele in the central orchestra section of a Greek theater, an altar dedicated to Bacchus.
tribunal in a Roman theater, a place of high status to the immediate right or left of a stage, reserved for magistrates, emperors, empresses, and the vestal virgins.
triclinium a Roman dining room with a low table surrounded by couches.
ustrinum where corpses were cremated in ancient Rome.
valetudinarium a Roman infirmary or hospital.
velarium an awning that protected the audience from the elements in a Roman theatre or amphitheater.
via any paved Roman road.
Via Appia the first Roman highway, built in 312 b.c., and joining Rome with Capua.
via munita a Roman road paved with polygonal blocks of stone or lava.
villa an elaborate Roman residence with gardens and outbuildings.
villa rustica an agricultural villa with apartments for a steward, bookkeeper, and slaves.
vitrum in Roman construction, glass.
vomitory an entrance or exit in a bank of seats in a Roman theater or amphitheater.
water leaf in Greek or Roman ornamentation, a lotus leaf or ivy motif.
Far Eastern Architecture
amado in traditional Japanese architecture, a sliding storm shutter, usually set at night.
byo a Japanese mausoleum.
ch'an t'ang in Chinese architecture, a room set apart for meditation.
chashitsu a small rustic house equipped for the Japanese tea ceremony; also, a room so equipped.
chen ch'uan a Chinese triangular arch.
ch'iao a Chinese bridge.
chigai-dana in a Japanese house, steplike shelving placed in an alcove.
chu in Chinese construction, a column.
ch'uan in Chinese construction, an arch.
chuang in Chinese construction, a window of any kind.
daikoku-bashira in the center of a traditional Japanese house, a large post associated with the god of fortune.
fang in traditional Chinese architecture, a building with the appearance of a barge, used as a tavern or restaurant, on the shore of a lake or pond.
feng huo t'ai one of the regularly spaced (1% miles) rectangular towers along the Great Wall of China.
fusuma in a Japanese house, a decoratively painted, sliding interior partition made of wood lattice covered with heavy paper or cloth.
genkan in traditional Japanese architecture, a vestibule where shoes are set before entering a building.
goju-no-tu a five-story pagoda.
haiden a Japanese hall of worship.
hashira in Japanese construction, a column.
hogyo-yane in traditional Japanese architecture, a pyramidal roof.
kaidan Japanese steps.
mado in Japanese architecture, a window.
men in Chinese architecture, a door.
minka a traditional Japanese farmhouse.
mu a Chinese tomb.
nagare-zukuri a popular style of Japanese shrine, characterized by a gabled roof that extends over and beyond the front stairs.
nagaya in traditional Japanese architecture, an elongated apartment house.
nijiriguchi a tiny guest entrance to a Japanese tea- ceremony house, through which one must pass on one's knees.
ping feng in a traditional Chinese house, a wood or bamboo partition moved when needed for privacy.
she li t'a a Chinese pagoda made of masonry and used as a shrine.
shikkui a traditional Japanese architecture, plaster, mortar, stucco, or whitewash made from lime and clay.
sorin the uppermost or crowning spire of a Japanese pagoda.
sukiya a Japanese tearoom or teahouse.
tatami one of several thick, 6-foot-long straw floor- mats used in a Japanese house.
tea garden a Japanese garden next to a teahouse or tearoom.
to a Japanese pagoda of two to seven stories, a shrine for Buddhist relics.
yagura in Japanese architecture, a tower.
zashiki in a Japanese house, a room for entertaining guests.
Indian Architecture