The Pantheon – Roman Architecture
Hadrian's Pantheon from the outside. Built in Rome, around 120 AD. Who built the Roman Pantheon? In the time of the Roman Emperor Augustus, about 10 BC, one of his generals, a [...]
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08, 2017
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08, 2017
Christianity in the 200s AD – History of religion
An early Christian house church at Dura Europos, in Syria (200s AD) Christian persecution pauses During the forty years between 261 AD and 303 AD, the Roman government did not officially [...]
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08, 2017
Brigham Young – Mormon religion
Brigham Young in the 1840s And after they killed Joseph Smith? After a mob killed Joseph Smith, the Mormons chose a new leader, Brigham Young (BRIG-am yung) and wisely left Illinois. The [...]
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07, 2017
What is a misericorde? Middle Ages
A misericorde in a church Why did people need misericordes? In the Middle Ages, Christian priests and monks sang in their church choirs just as people do today. Sometimes they had to sing for [...]
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07, 2017
Parts of a Church – Architecture
Notre Dame of Paris (1160s AD) The shape of a cross Medieval architects designed most Romanesque and Gothic churches starting with the design of a Roman basilica. But many churches added a part coming out [...]
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05, 2017
What is a mosaic? History of Art
A mosaic floor made up of tiny blocks You make the simplest kind of mosaic by taking a lot of black and white pebbles and arranging them on a bed [...]
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05, 2017
What is a transept? Medieval Architecture
Transept of Rouen cathedral (France, 1200s AD) Transepts were part of medieval Christian churches. Most churches were shaped like a cross, to remind people about Jesus' crucifixion, and the transept [...]
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05, 2017
What is a nave? History of Architecture
Nave of Abbaye aux Dames (Caen, 1050 AD) The nave is the long narrow part of a Roman basilica or a Christian church - the part where people sit in a [...]
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05, 2017
What’s a flying buttress? Medieval Europe
Flying buttress (Rouen Cathedral, 1200s AD) Gothic cathedrals In the 1100s AD, architects in northern France wanted to build big impressive Gothic cathedrals. They also wanted their cathedrals to be [...]
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05, 2017
What’s a buttress? History of Architecture
Buttress of St. Germain des Pres (Paris, 1100s AD) A buttress holds up a wall A buttress is a big pile of stone that keeps a building's walls from falling down. [...]
