This article is about an architectural feature. For square-inch analysis, see Square-inch analysis.
In architecture, a squinch is a triangular corner that supports the base of a dome.[1] Its visual purpose is to translate a rectangle into an octagon. See also: pendentive.
Squinches supporting a dome in Odzun Basilica, Armenia, early 8th century
A squinch is typically formed by a masonry arch that spans a square corner.
Historyedit
The dome on squinches was already known in ancient Rome since early on. Although the Roman examples still standing that have survived to this day are late, the presence of square spaces that appear to have been covered by domes suggests that the technique was known very early. One of the most beautiful examples is the dome of the early Christian baptistery of San Giovanni in Fonte in Naples, whose dome and squinches are covered with mosaics from the 5th century (the construction of the baptistery, however, began in the 4th century). The fairly common "shell" motif found on Byzantine, Islamic and Romanesque horns is typically Roman (furnace vault and tympanum decoration in Roman architecture) and could be an indication of ancient sources of inspiration. However, the oldest known example of domes on squinches still standing is found in Sassanid architecture, in the 3rd century Ardacher Palace, a monument that displays some Roman influences elsewhere so the squinches there probably came from Roman influence.[2]
This technique was widely used in Byzantine and Armenian architecture, especially when the domes were not of large diameter. But this technique will be strongly challenged by pendentives, more suitable for large domes, as shown by that of the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople. Small domes on squinches also spread in Islamic architecture, where they were very common. They are often decorated with muqarnas that imitate cantilevered structures After the rise of Islam, it was used in the Middle East in both eastern Romanesque and Islamic architecture. It remained a feature of Islamic architecture, especially in Iran, and was often covered by corbelled stalactite-like structures known as muqarnas[3]
After the rise of Islam, it was used in the Middle East in both eastern Romanesque and Islamic architecture. It remained a feature of Islamic architecture, especially in Iran, and was often covered by corbelled stalactite-like structures known as muqarnas.
History in Western Europeedit
It spread to the Romanesque architecture of western Europe, one example being the Normans' 12th-century church of San Cataldo, Palermo, in Sicily. This has three domes, each supported by four doubled squinches.
Etymologyedit
The word may possibly originate, the Oxford English Dictionary suggests, from the French word escoinson, meaning "from an angle", which became the English word "scuncheon" and then "scunch".[4][5]
Referencesedit
^Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary, 1986, p. 1145
^Parker, John Henry (1989). A concise glossary of architectural terms. Internet Archive. London : Bracken Books. ISBN978-1-85170-266-4.
^Parker, John Henry (1989). A concise glossary of architectural terms. Internet Archive. London : Bracken Books. ISBN978-1-85170-266-4.
^. Oxford Living Dictionaries. Archived from the original on March 12, 2018. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
^ "The definition of squinch". Dictionary.com. 2015. Retrieved 2015-10-24.
squinch, this, article, about, architectural, feature, square, inch, analysis, square, inch, analysis, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, c. This article is about an architectural feature For square inch analysis see Square inch analysis This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Squinch news newspapers books scholar JSTOR April 2020 Learn how and when to remove this template message In architecture a squinch is a triangular corner that supports the base of a dome 1 Its visual purpose is to translate a rectangle into an octagon See also pendentive Squinches supporting a dome in Odzun Basilica Armenia early 8th century Contents 1 Construction 2 History 3 History in Western Europe 4 Etymology 5 References 6 External linksConstruction edit nbsp Squinch in the Palace of Ardashir in Fars IranA squinch is typically formed by a masonry arch that spans a square corner History editThe dome on squinches was already known in ancient Rome since early on Although the Roman examples still standing that have survived to this day are late the presence of square spaces that appear to have been covered by domes suggests that the technique was known very early One of the most beautiful examples is the dome of the early Christian baptistery of San Giovanni in Fonte in Naples whose dome and squinches are covered with mosaics from the 5th century the construction of the baptistery however began in the 4th century The fairly common shell motif found on Byzantine Islamic and Romanesque horns is typically Roman furnace vault and tympanum decoration in Roman architecture and could be an indication of ancient sources of inspiration However the oldest known example of domes on squinches still standing is found in Sassanid architecture in the 3rd century Ardacher Palace a monument that displays some Roman influences elsewhere so the squinches there probably came from Roman influence 2 This technique was widely used in Byzantine and Armenian architecture especially when the domes were not of large diameter But this technique will be strongly challenged by pendentives more suitable for large domes as shown by that of the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople Small domes on squinches also spread in Islamic architecture where they were very common They are often decorated with muqarnas that imitate cantilevered structures After the rise of Islam it was used in the Middle East in both eastern Romanesque and Islamic architecture It remained a feature of Islamic architecture especially in Iran and was often covered by corbelled stalactite like structures known as muqarnas 3 After the rise of Islam it was used in the Middle East in both eastern Romanesque and Islamic architecture It remained a feature of Islamic architecture especially in Iran and was often covered by corbelled stalactite like structures known as muqarnas History in Western Europe editIt spread to the Romanesque architecture of western Europe one example being the Normans 12th century church of San Cataldo Palermo in Sicily This has three domes each supported by four doubled squinches Etymology editThe word may possibly originate the Oxford English Dictionary suggests from the French word escoinson meaning from an angle which became the English word scuncheon and then scunch 4 5 References edit Webster s Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary 1986 p 1145 Parker John Henry 1989 A concise glossary of architectural terms Internet Archive London Bracken Books ISBN 978 1 85170 266 4 Parker John Henry 1989 A concise glossary of architectural terms Internet Archive London Bracken Books ISBN 978 1 85170 266 4 definition of Squinch Oxford Living Dictionaries Archived from the original on March 12 2018 Retrieved 11 March 2018 The definition of squinch Dictionary com 2015 Retrieved 2015 10 24 External links edit nbsp Media related to Squinches at Wikimedia Commons nbsp This architectural element related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Squinch amp oldid 1189508253, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
