Fig. 51. Atticurge doorway at Agrigentum.
Atticurge, Arch. (Ἀττικουργὴς, wrought in Attic fashion). A doorway, the uprights of which, instead of being perpendicular, inclined slightly inwards, so that the opening was wider at the threshold than immediately under the lintel. Fig. [51] represents the doorway of an ancient monument at Agrigentum, in Sicily.
Attires, Attired, Her. The antlers of a stag or “hart” having antlers.
Attributes. Conventional symbols of the character, or the agency, or the history, of subjects of art representation.
Auditorium, R. (a place for hearing). A lecture-room, assembly-room, court of justice, or generally any place in which orators, poets. &c., were heard. The Basilicæ contained halls so named, in which courts of justice were held.
Augmentation, Her. An honourable addition to a coat of arms.
Augurale, R. (augur, a soothsayer). In a Roman camp the augurale was a place situated to the right of the general’s tent or Prætorium (q.v.). It was so called because the augurs there took their station to observe the flight of birds. In Greece, the oracles were consulted; but in Rome questions were addressed to Jupiter, who answered simply “Do” or “Do not,” by his messengers the birds. They gave no prophecies.
Augustine’s Oak, at Aust on the Severn; the scene of the conference between St. Augustine and the British bishops, A. D. 602.
Aula, Gr. and R. (αὐλή). (1) An open court attached to a house. It was usually in front, and on either side of it were the stables and offices. When it belonged to a farm it was round this courtyard that the stabling, sheepfolds, and other outhouses were arranged. (2) Aula regia was the central part of the scene in a Greek or Roman theatre.