Meaning of spolia | Babel Free

Definitions

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

plural, plural-only

Equivalents

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