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Illustration of the storefront of a medieval shop on a street with buildings on either side. Spires rise in the background. Much of the architecture is in the Gothic style. Two men stand in the street. Two women stand just outside the shop. What appears to be a statue of an angel with a sword adorns the outside wall of the shop.

A Medieval Shop, Storefront

Illustration of the storefront of a medieval shop on a street with buildings on either side. Spires…

"...and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way." Luke 2:9-12 KJV <p>Illustration of three kings, or maji, worshiping Jesus and bringing him gifts. Jesus is sitting on Mary's lap. Two kings wearing crowns stand in front of Mary while a third, without a crown, kneels. Two sheep are asleep in the corner. Joseph and a donkey stand behind a low fence. Servants and a camel stand off to the side.The star in the east shines on to the scene.

Kings from the East Worship the Baby Jesus

"...and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where…

"Part of a Roman Aqueduct. Aqueducts form one of the most characteristic features of Roman architecture. Although these simple successions of gigantic arches, which stretch for miles, have no pretensions to artistic beauty, yet their wonderful size and extent bear witness to the vast conceptions of Roman genius."

Roman Aqueduct

"Part of a Roman Aqueduct. Aqueducts form one of the most characteristic features of Roman architecture.…

A curved or vaulted structure.

Arch

A curved or vaulted structure.

Arch of Titus (Rome)

Arch of Titus

Arch of Titus (Rome)

Elipse arch.

Arch

Elipse arch.

Equilateral arch.

Arch

Equilateral arch.

Horseshoe arch.

Arch

Horseshoe arch.

Lancet arch.

Arch

Lancet arch.

Segment arch.

Arch

Segment arch.

Segmental arch.

Arch

Segmental arch.

Semicircle arch.

Arch

Semicircle arch.

"Arches of S. Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna." &mdash; Encyclopediia Britannica, 1910

Arches

"Arches of S. Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna." — Encyclopediia Britannica, 1910

"Arches of S. Apol linare Nuovo, Ravenna." &mdash; The Encyclopedia Britannica, 1910

Arches

"Arches of S. Apol linare Nuovo, Ravenna." — The Encyclopedia Britannica, 1910

An illustration of two story tall arches.

Arches

An illustration of two story tall arches.

"Romanesque arches." &mdash;D'Anvers, 1895

Romanesque arches

"Romanesque arches." —D'Anvers, 1895

A barrel vault, also known as a tunnel vault or a wagon vault, is an architectural element formed by the extrusion of a single curve (or pair of curves, in the case of a pointed barrel vault) along a given distance. The curves are typically circular in shape, lending a semi-cylindrical appearance to the total design. The barrel vault is the simplest form of a vault: effectively a series of arches placed side by side, i.e., one after another.

Barrel Vault

A barrel vault, also known as a tunnel vault or a wagon vault, is an architectural element formed by…

"The covered bridge over the Ticino at Pavia was erected, under Gain Galeazzo Visconti, about the end of the 14th century. This bridge, which still exists, has seven pointed brick arches, each 70 feet in span and 64 feet in height; the depth of the arch ring at the crown is 5 feet, 6 inches." &mdash; Encyclopedia Britanica, 1893

Ticino Bridge

"The covered bridge over the Ticino at Pavia was erected, under Gain Galeazzo Visconti, about the end…

Illustration of the Cathedral at Monreale, near Palermo. It is an example of Sicilian and Norman architecture. Construction was begun in 1174. The interior includes monolithic columns with Corinthian capitals. There are numerous pointed arches. Mosaics cover all of the interior walls and ceilings.

Cathedral of Monreale - Interior View

Illustration of the Cathedral at Monreale, near Palermo. It is an example of Sicilian and Norman architecture.…

This illustration shows one fragment of a French cloister built in the Middle Ages. The architecture is Gothic, with pointed arches and vaulted ceilings, Two monks huddle in the passageway. This cloister looks very similar to the cloister at Mont Saint Michel Abbey, though it is not labeled as such.

A Cloister at a French Monastery from the Middle Ages

This illustration shows one fragment of a French cloister built in the Middle Ages. The architecture…

The construction of arches and vaults did not remain confined to the interior of buildings, but imparted its own expression to the architecture of the exterior also; for the shape of openings became circular instead of square, although they were surrounded by half-columns gave a rectilinear finish to the whole.

Architecture of the Colosseum

The construction of arches and vaults did not remain confined to the interior of buildings, but imparted…

Illustration of the various layers of a Roman road. This is a section of the Appian Way, built across marsh-land. Pictured are the large flat stones topped with gradually smaller stones and capped with large, hard, stone blocks. A milestone is visible on the road, as well as archways beneath the road.

Construction Layers of a Section of the Appian Way

Illustration of the various layers of a Roman road. This is a section of the Appian Way, built across…

"The crown of the Stuart sovereigns, the first kings of Great Britain, James I and Charles I, had four arches, each of the eight semi-arches springing from the alternating crosses and fleurs-de-lys of the circlet." &mdash; Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

Crown

"The crown of the Stuart sovereigns, the first kings of Great Britain, James I and Charles I, had four…

"Cusp, in architecture, is the point formed by the meeting of two small arches, or foils, in foil arches, or tracery. Cusps often terminate in rich bosses of flowers and leaves." &mdash; Chambers' Encyclopedia, 1875

Cusp

"Cusp, in architecture, is the point formed by the meeting of two small arches, or foils, in foil arches,…

"Fragment of the Entrance-Fa&ccedil;ade of the Palace of Diocletian at Spalatro. The tendency of the period of decadence is particularly illustrated by the introduction of small shafts resting on brackets, which serve no other purpose than to adorn and enliven the fa&ccedil;ade. Between these small shafts are alternate windows, with a semicircular head and niches of various shapes.

Entrance Façade of Diocletian's Palace

"Fragment of the Entrance-Façade of the Palace of Diocletian at Spalatro. The tendency of the…

A mechanical drawing exercise of drawing a curved line with circle in the middle. The image is drawn by drawing a small circle in the middle. The curved lines around the circle is drawn by using the ticked line as the radius.

Curved Line with Circle Mechanical Drawing Exercise

A mechanical drawing exercise of drawing a curved line with circle in the middle. The image is drawn…

The Pont du Gard is an aqueduct and bridge that was built over the Gard River by the Roman Empire. It is located in Southern France, in the Vers-Pont-du-Gard and Remoulins area. The bridge is built on three levels. The lower level has 6 arches and carries a road, the middle level has 11 arches, and the upper level has 35 arches and was used as a water conduit.

Pont du Gard

The Pont du Gard is an aqueduct and bridge that was built over the Gard River by the Roman Empire. It…

A groin vault or groined vault (also sometimes known as a double barrel vault or cross vault) is produced by the intersection at right angles of two barrel vaults. The word groin refers to the edge between the intersecting vaults; cf. ribbed vault. Sometimes the arches of groin vaults are pointed instead of round.

Groin Vault

A groin vault or groined vault (also sometimes known as a double barrel vault or cross vault) is produced…

An arch having an angular curve made by the intersection of two semi-cylinders of arches.

Groined-arch

An arch having an angular curve made by the intersection of two semi-cylinders of arches.

"Jesus saith unto him, Arise, take up thy bed, and walk. And straightway the man was made whole, and took up his bed and walked. Now it was the sabbath on that day." John 5:8-9 ASV <p>Illustration of Jesus healing a sick, 38-year-old man who has been waiting for angel to come and move the healing waters. Jesus stands in front of the pool with his left arm outstretched above the sick man. The man sits with a staff under his arm. Two disciples stand behind Jesus. Other sick onlookers gaze up at an angel outside of the pool area in the sky.

Jesus Heals a Sick Man at the Pool of Bethesda

"Jesus saith unto him, Arise, take up thy bed, and walk. And straightway the man was made whole, and…

The interior of the House of Commons in Parliament during the 1900's. It is pictured packed with representatives. The Commons Chamber was designed to foster adversarial feelings. Benches line the walls and face each other. The ceiling is vaulted and the walls are highly decorated.

The House of Commons Interior in the Early 20th Century

The interior of the House of Commons in Parliament during the 1900's. It is pictured packed with representatives.…

"Saxon Architecture was the style of architecture in use in England from the time of its conversion till the Conquest. It is easily recognized by its massive columns and semicircular arches, which usually spring from capitals without the intervention of the entablature."—(Charles Leonard-Stuart, 1911)

Tower in Northamptonshire, England

"Saxon Architecture was the style of architecture in use in England from the time of its conversion…