cella

American  

[sel-uh] / ˈsɛl ə /

noun

Architecture.

plural

cellae

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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Etymology

Origin of cella

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

Example Sentences

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

From Time Magazine Archive

Within the colonnade the two ends of the cella are adorned with a frieze of Parian marble, which is still in position.

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

The walls of the cella, or sanctuary of the temple, where they still remain, are immense.

From The Near East Dalmatia, Greece and Constantinople by Hichens, Robert (Robert Smythe)

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)

The eastern door of the Erechtheum was not the normal, not the intended entrance to the cella of Athena, but served as the traditional eastern entrance toward which the xoanon faced.

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