ARCHITECTURE. 147 
2. Taz Periop rrom THe 11TH To Tue 16ra CENTURY, OR TO THE 
Deciinn or Art. 
Although the Byzantine and kindred styles of architecture, as we have 
seen, originated in the first portion of the middle ages, yet a number of 
buildings in these styles were erected during the second. The character- 
istic style of this period, however, is the pownted-arch style. We will devote 
a few cursory remarks to its peculiarities before entering upon a more 
minute examination of its principal monuments. For greater clearness we 
shall separate the various component parts of the churches, and consider 
each by itself, noticing first that the ground plan was gradually perfected 
and received a more symmetrical and constant form. 
1. Tae Apsis on Sanctuary. The churches of the 11th and 12th 
centuries terminate in a semicircular apses, like the basilicas (pl. 34, fig. 1), 
connected by a semi-conic dome with the main building. It is, however, 
generally lower than the latter, whilst its floor is elevated by several steps. 
In the middle or at the lower end of the apsis stood the altar. Behind it, 
near the rear wall, was the bishop’s throne, which was occupied by this 
functionary and his two deacons. Sometimes the apsis was triangular, as 
in the church of Vaison (jig. 2); quadrangular, as in the church of Amans 
(jig. 4); or polygonal, as in the cathedral of Carpentras (jig. 3); yet its 
interior was almost always round. At first this part of the church had no 
windows. They were afterwards introduced, but generally in uneven num- 
bers. In many very old churches the altar was placed against the rear 
wall, when the bishop’s throne was south of it. 
2. Tue Hien Cuore. This occupied the space between the apsis and the 
transept. It was originally intended for the accommodation of the singers 
and inferior clergy. Its roof was usually lower than that of the nave, 
but higher than that of the apsis. The choir was usually separated 
from the main nave by a railing and the desk at which the Gospel was 
read. 
3. Tue Marty Nave is the principal part of the church, forming, in an 
architectural point of view, the nucleus around which all the other parts are 
grouped, and against which they lean. It is therefore the most lofty. It is 
the place where the worshippers attend service. 
4. Tue Sipe Auszes are parallel to the main nave, and are only separated 
from it by rows of pillars or columns. In the basilicas they were cut short 
by a wall at the base of the apsis; in the Byzantine churches they had sub- 
ordinate apsides of their own, used as vestry, library, &c.; but in the 
pointed-arch style they extend far back, encircling the choir and apsis of 
the main nave, and forming the gallery of the choir, which in many cases 
has attached chapels at every arch, as in the cathedral of Magdeburg 
(pl. 41, fig. i) and the church St. Germain de Pres in Paris (pl. 35, fig. 1). 
Examples are, however, found of pointed-arch churches and chapels without 
any side aisles; ¢.g. St. John’s church in Beauvais (pl. 34, jig. 5). On the 
other hand, the side aisles of very large churches are divided by pillars or 
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