cella

American  

[sel-uh] / ˈsɛl ə /

noun

Architecture.

• cellae
  plural

1. the principal enclosed chamber of a classical temple.

2. the entire central structure of a classical temple.

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cella British  

/ ˈsɛlə /

noun

1. Also called: naos. the inner room of a classical temple, esp the room housing the statue of a deity

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• cellae
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of cella

1670–80; < Latin: storeroom, shrine, akin to cēlāre to hide; see conceal

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cella cellae

Enough old stones exist to rebuild much of the wall of the Parthenon's rectangular interior chamber, or cella.

From Time Magazine Archive

The cella contained ten Ionic columns engaged in buttresses which connected them with the side walls.

From A Catalogue of Sculpture in the Department of Greek and Roman Antiquities, British Museum, Volume I (of 2) by A. H. Smith

For the purposes of the church, an apse was built at the east end of the cella, and the entrance was moved to the west end.

From A Catalogue of Sculpture in the Department of Greek and Roman Antiquities, British Museum, Volume I (of 2) by A. H. Smith

Towards the south end of the cella was a single Corinthian column, of 272 remarkable form, which is now lost.

From A Catalogue of Sculpture in the Department of Greek and Roman Antiquities, British Museum, Volume I (of 2) by A. H. Smith

The present plan of the temple in which east and west cella are separated by a closed wall, compels that assumption.

From Problems in Periclean Buildings by G. W. (George Wicker) Elderkin

The conclusive argument is that there are no cuttings in the rock for the cross-wall between the two cellae, although that rock lay only 1-1.50 m. below the base of the wall.

From Problems in Periclean Buildings by G. W. (George Wicker) Elderkin

Then let the length be divided into two equal parts, of which let the inner be reserved as space for the cellae, and the part next the front left for the arrangement of the columns.

From The Ten Books on Architecture by Vitruvius Pollio

Hercules, Doric order appropriate to, 15; site of temple of, 31; cellae of temple of, 53; Pompey's temple of, 80.

From The Ten Books on Architecture by Vitruvius Pollio

For the cellae of Athena and Erechtheus ought then to have been considered separately.

From Problems in Periclean Buildings by G. W. (George Wicker) Elderkin

This took its name from the Capitolium of Roman times, the remains of which were found under the Piazza Luna; the three cellae were clearly traceable.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 10, Slice 5 "Fleury, Claude" to "Foraker" by Various

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