spolia
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.39 in modern English
8
Scrabble Score
6
Letters
2
Syllables
6
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
Old objects, artifacts, and/or sculptural elements reused in a later work of architecture.
Example Sentences
- "In the field of architecture the use of spolia began with Constantine."
- "The sultan did not so much destroy and rebuild as adapt and embroider, reusing the gorgeous spolia of the Crusaders with their foliate patterns, capitals and wetleaf acanthus; his architecture is thus constructed with the very symbols of his enemies, which makes it hard to distinguish between the buildings of the Crusaders and Saladin."
- "The conspicuous use of spolia in the Mihaloğlu buildings of the shrine of Syyid Gazi is a remarkable departure from the dominant architectural culture of the time."
Etymology
Latin spolia (“spoils”).
Origin
- Source language: Latin
Word Breakdown
- Root: spolia