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

Etymology

Origin of cella

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

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

Pausanias walked into the cella of Athena from that of Erechtheus without ascending a step.

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

The frieze formed an internal decoration, above the colonnade within the cella, and had two long sides measuring 35 feet 9 inches, and two short sides measuring 14 feet 2⅛ inches.

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

Thus the north porch gave admission to a temenos, but not according to present theory to the eastern cella of Athena.

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

Sekos, sē′kos, n. in Greek antiquities, any sacred enclosure, a sanctuary, cella of the temple.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 4 of 4: S-Z and supplements) by Various

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 Elderkin, G. W. (George Wicker)

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

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

Within the cellae of Greek temples, the interior cross-wall is regularly at right angles to the axis of the main entrance and not parallel to that axis as in the west cella of the Erechtheum.

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

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

Patras, cellae of temple built of brick, 53.

From The Ten Books on Architecture by Vitruvius Pollio