Temples glossary terms

Sanctuary

A cut-off area of holy land for worship of the gods containing a temple and an altar

Pollution

When a person has sone something to make them impure in the eyes of a god

colonnade

an open air covered walkway supported by columns

cella

Meant 'small room' in Latin and was the room of the temple that contained the cult statue

Naos

Meant 'small room' in Latin and was the room of the temple that contained the cult statue - Greek version

opisthodomos

rear room in a temple that contained the city or town's treasures

Ionic frieze

an unbroken strip of marble that goes all the way around a temple

Doric frieze

a continuous strip of stone or marble divided into square spaces called metopes

hiereus

'one who sacrifices to a god' - a Greek priest

hiereia

'one who sacrifices to a god' - a Greek priestess

mantis

a Greek soothsayer who read entrails of animals or bird signs to predict the outcome of future events

augur

person who reads the flight of birds to predict the outcome of future events

hecatomb

the sacrifice in honour of gods of at lease 100 oxen during large festivals

gilding

the covering of a surface in a thin layer of gold

Altis

the sacred area in the centre of Olympia that contained religious buildings

semi-engaged column

a supporting column that is embedded in a wall, half protruding from it

pax deorum

peace of the gods

pontifex

A Roman priest in charge of protecting temples, regulating religious law and overseeing the religious calendar

Pontifex Maximus

the head of the pontiffs, greatest pontiff

lituus

Staff used by a Roman augur

Vestal

Female priests in charge of the cult of the goddess Vesta

mola salsa

A mix of salt and flour made by the Vestal Virgins in Rome and sprinkled on the heads of sacrificial victims

haruspex

A Roman priest who read omens from entrails

popa

an official at a Roman sacrifice who struck the sacrificial animals with a wooden rod

cultrarius

An official at a sacrifice who slit the throat of the sacrificial animal

rotunda

A round Roman building, especially one with a dome

oculus

a circular opening at the top of a dome