Temple definitions

Ionic frieze

An unbroken strip of marble that goes all the way around a temple, used for a continuous story or one with many characters

Doric frieze

A continuous strip of stone or marble that runs around a temple, divided into square spaces called metopes, used for multiple stories/several scenes from one story

Pediment

The triangular top either side of a temple that could contain sculpture or be left blank

Metope

A square space filled with a scene (criteria being recognisable, realistic and fill the space)

Column

Pillars of stone holding up the roof of a temple

Naos/cella

Inner chamber of a temple which housed the god’s cult statue

Sanctuary

The sacred area (holy land) that surrounded the temple, containing it (sometimes multiple temples) and the altar, could also have a stream running through it to purify polluted people

Colonnade

An open air covered walkway supported by columns, standing on the foundation plinth, providing support for the temple roof

Opisthodomos

The enclosed room at the back of a Greek temple, often used as a treasury to hold treasure captured during warfare and offerings to the gods

Pollution

People who had come into contact with dead people, newborns or who had committed homicide, could be removed with a wash or last for a number of days (impure in the eyes of the gods)

Altar

The place used primarily for sacrifice, usually found outside but within the sanctuary

Foundation plinth

Provided steps up to the temple and raised it above the ground to increase the sense of grandeur

What was a temple used for?

During festivals when large sacrifices would be given, priests would look after the temple keeping it functional and attractive on normal days, providing a reminder for humans of who is honoured and holy, the opisthodomos (found inside the temple) stored treasure and money, gods honoured in temples could be asked for help in war or times of desperation, used as an expression of identity, glorification of the gods and the surrounding city, for specific desires to be fulfilled

What types of sacrifice are there?

Votives (statues of body parts/whole body used for asking or thanking a god for healing), libations (an offering of wine), and blood sacrifice (using animals, specifically their blood poured onto the altar)