|Greek cross; Latin cross; rotunda| These terms usually refer to
the shape of a church. A Greek cross church has four arms having
the same length. A Latin cross church has the arm of the
entrance longer than the other arms. A rotunda church has a
circular shape. The most famous rotunda is the Pantheon or S.
Maria della Rotonda. The image shows the plans of SS. Martina e
Luca (Greek cross) and of S. Bernardo alle Terme (rotunda). For
an example of Latin cross plan see a page on the building
process of S. Pietro in Vaticano. |Greek key pattern| It is one
of the most ancient decorative motifs, with many symbolic
meanings (the four cardinal points, the meander of life, the
four seasons, etc.). The image shows the ruins of a Byzantine
building near the Maritime Walls of Constantinople. The
decoration is a complex variation of the basic Greek key
pattern. grotto is a picturesque (often artificial) cave
designed to provide shelter from the summer heat. nymphaeum is a
complex of grottoes, fountains and statues. Both