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

To Juventas, as personifying the eternal youth of the Roman state, a chapel was dedicated in very early times in the cella of Minerva in the temple of Jupiter Capitolinus.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 13, Slice 2 "Hearing" to "Helmond" by Various

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 Smith, A. H.

The frieze was internal, and passed round the cella, with the exception of that portion which is south of the Corinthian column.

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

The temple consisted of a central cella with a pronaos and opisthodomos, and was surrounded by a Doric colonnade, having six columns at the ends and fifteen columns at the sides.

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