Meaning of spolia | Babel Free

Definitions

Old objects, artifacts, and/or sculptural elements reused in a later work of architecture.

plural, plural-only

Examples

“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.”

CEFR level