arcosolium

American  

[ahr-kuh-soh-lee-uhm] / ˌɑr kəˈsoʊ li əm /

noun

arcosolia plural

1. (in Roman catacombs) an arched recess for a sarcophagus.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• arcosolia
  plural

Etymology

Origin of arcosolium

1875–80; < New Latin, equivalent to Latin arc ( us ) arc + -o- -o- + solium sarcophagus

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

arcosolium arcosolia

The front of the arcosolium is closed by a wall, on the surface of which is an interesting fresco, which is here reproduced.

From Pagan and Christian Rome by Lanciani, Rodolfo Amedeo

The cubiculum contains two graves: one empty, in the arcosolium, the place of honor; the other, in front of it, of a much later date.

From Pagan and Christian Rome by Lanciani, Rodolfo Amedeo

The letters are of the 2nd century; but above the arcosolium was found a stone with great letters, 5 or 6 in. high: “AMPLIATI, the tomb of Ampliatus.”

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 5 "Cat" to "Celt" by Various

In arcosolium tombs the receptacles are benches cut in the wall, like the berths in a steamer's cabin.

From How to Observe in Archaeology by Various

Other forms of very frequent recurrence are the table tomb and arched tomb, or arcosolium.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 5 "Cat" to "Celt" by Various

Table-tombs and arcosolia are by no means rare in the corridors of the catacombs, but they belong more generally to the cubicula, or family vaults, of which we now proceed to speak.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 5 "Cat" to "Celt" by Various

The mode of interment, however, is the same as that practised in Rome, and the loculi and arcosolia differ by little in the two.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 5 "Cat" to "Celt" by Various

The niche over tombs of this kind was of the same length as the grave, and generally vaulted in a semicircular form, whence they were called arcosolia.

From Walks in Rome by Hare, Augustus J. C.

The arcosolia were dismantled, and the loculi violated one by one.

From Pagan and Christian Rome by Lanciani, Rodolfo Amedeo

The Christians scattered the relics of the first occupants, knocked down their busts, built arcosolia in the three recesses of the Greek cross, and honeycombed with loculi the side walls of the corridor.

From Pagan and Christian Rome by Lanciani, Rodolfo Amedeo