hypogeum
[hahy-puh-jee-uh m, hip-uh-]
- Ancient Architecture. the underground part of a building, as a vault.
- an underground burial chamber.
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Origin of hypogeum
1700–10; < Latin hypogēum < Greek hypógeion underground chamber (neuter of hypógeios underground), equivalent to hypo- hypo- + gê earth + -ion neuter adj. suffix
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for hypogeum
Historical Examples
In two of the largest chambers in the hypogeum the roof and walls are still decorated with designs in red paint.
Rough Stone Monuments and Their BuildersT. Eric Peet
We shall call attention, however, to a hypogeum at Gizeh, which is numbered 81 in Lepsius's map of that tomb-field.
A History of Art in Ancient Egypt, Vol. II (of 2)Georges Perrot
Verily you would think that the painter of these figures of the shades had only just quitted the hypogeum.
Egypt (La Mort De Philae)Pierre Loti
That moment an old man, wearing a hooded mantle but with a bare head, issued from the hypogeum.
Quo VadisHenryk Sienkiewicz
Here and there were separate monuments, and in the centre was the entrance to the hypogeum itself, or crypt.
Quo VadisHenryk Sienkiewicz
hypogeum
- an underground vault, esp one used for burials
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Word Origin
C18: from Latin, from Greek hupogeion; see hypogeal
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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