Leading forms of early cathedral constructions
VI
The disposition of the parts of a tenth-century church, as defined by Viollet-le-Duc
Of this class are many monastic churches, as will be evinced by the inclusion of a cloister in the diagram plan. Many of these were subsequently made use of, as the church and the cloisters, where they had not suffered the stress of time, were of course retained. St. Bertrand de Comminges is a notable example among the smaller structures.
In the basilica form of ground-plan, which obtained to a modified extent, the transepts were often lacking, or at least only suggested. Subsequently they were added in many cases, but the tenth-century church pur sang was mainly a parallelogram-like structure, with, of course, an apsidal termination.
| A | The choir |
| B | The exedra, meaning literally a niche or throne—in this instance for the occupancy of the bishop, abbot, or prior—apart from the main edifice |
| C | The high-altar |
| D | Secondary or specially dedicated altars |
| E | The transepts, which in later centuries expanded and lengthened |
| G | The nave proper, down which was reserved a free passage separating the men from the women |
| H | The aisles |
| I | The portico or porch which precedes the nave (i. e., the narthen of the primitive basilica), where the pilgrims who were temporarily forbidden to enter were allowed to wait |
| K | A separate portal or doorway to cloisters |
| L | The cloister |
| M | The towers; often placed at the junction of transept and nave, instead of the later position, flanking the west façade |
| N | The baptismal font; usually in the central nave, but often in the aisle |
| O | Entrance to the crypt or confessional, where were usually preserved the reliques of the saint to whom the church was erected |
| P | The tribune, in a later day often surrounded by a screen or jubé |