architectural elements of churches [This entry consists of forty-one articles. Most were written by Peter Grossmann. "Baptistery" is by W. Godlewski, "Column" by Hans-Georg Severin. They are as follows:
Aisle Naos Ambulatory Narthex Apse Nave Atrium Niche Baptistery Pillar Cancelli Porch Ceiling Presbytery Choir Prothyron Ciborium Return aisle Coffer Roof Colonnade Sacristy Column Saddleback roof Crypt Sanctuary Daraj al-haykal Shaq al-haykal Diaconicon Synthronon Dome Tetraconch Gallery Tribelon Horseshoe arch Triconch Iconostasis Triumphal arch Khurus Vault Maqsurah [See also: Altar; Baldachin; Basilica; Iconostasis.] Aisle An aisle is a passage on the side of the nave in a basilica-plan church. It is narrower than the nave and is usually separated from it by a row of columns connected by an architrave (beam) or arches. The purpose of aisles is to enlarge the interior of a church beyond the nave. Thus a church may have a nave or a nave and two or four aisles, depending on the size of the community it serves.