arcosolium

American  

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

noun

plural

arcosolia

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

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Etymology

Origin of arcosolium

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

Example Sentences

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

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

However, all tombs of this period fall into two groups, k�k tombs and arcosolium tombs.

From How to Observe in Archaeology by Various

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

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