acroterium
Sculptured motif, figurative or not, placed above the corners of the pediments in religious structures and public buildings.

Commonwealth of the islands
Confederation of the Aegean islands. The initiative for its establishment is attributed to Antigonos the One-Eyed and is dated to 313 BC. The Commonwelth, which seems to have been put under the protection of the sanctuary of Apollo in Delos, allowed Antigonos to control the islands and to use them as bases for the spread of his power in mainland Greece. Outside Apollo's cult, within the framework of the Commonwelth there were instituted cults in honour of the house of Antigonidae and later the Ptolemies.

crepis / crepidoma
The solid mass of stepped masonry serving as the visible base of a building. The crepidoma usually consists of three steps. The top step from which the columns spring is called the stereobate.

Delian or First Athenian League
League established by the Athenians after the end of the Persian Wars (478 BC). Many city-states of the Aegean were included in the league with the obligation to contribute ships or money. The lists with the sums offered by each member allow us to estimate their economic situation.

pediment, the
The triangular structure, over a building façade, between the horizontal entablature and the sloping roof, often decorated with sculptures, reliefs or painted figures.

propylon
Monumental architectural entrance, most often to a sanctuary or a building complex.

theme
A Byzantine term that signifies wide military and administrative units under the administration of a strategos (general). The institution was consolidated in the 7th century and was characteristic for the organization and the division of Byzantine Empire at the Middle Byzantine period. The term applies also to the army unit that resided in each administrative unit and was staffed by farmer-soldiers. The thematic system was maintained until the end of Byzantine period. However, in the Later Byzantine period it was used in order to declare mostly tax units.