cella

Examples of cella in the following topics:

• Etruscan Temples

  • Etruscan temples were usually frontal, axial, and built on a high podium with a single central staircase that allowed access to the cella (or cellas).
  • They were tall and widely spaced across a deep porch, aligning with the walls of the cellas.
  • In such cases, each god received its own cella, which housed its cult statue.
  • Often the three-cella temple would be dedicated to the principal gods of the Etruscan pantheon -- Tinia, Uni, and Menrva (comparable to the Roman gods Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva).

• Temple Architecture in the Greek Orientalizing Period

  • In its simplest form as a naos or cella, the temple was a simple rectangular shrine with protruding side walls (antae), forming a small porch.
  • Oriental Greek stone temples were fronted by three columns and one entrance which lead into a single room chamber (cella), where the cult statue would be placed.
  • The temple cella was reserved for the cult statue, while cult rituals (often sacrifices) took place outside in front of the temple and usually around an altar.
  • Early anta-planned temples consisted of a portico (pronaos) and an inner chamber (naos/cella) atop a simple platform.

• Roman Architecture under the Republic

  • They are also usually rectilinear, and the interiors consist of at least one cella, which contained a cult statue.
  • If multiple gods were worshiped in one temple, each god would have its own cella and cult image.
  • For example, Capitolia, temples dedicated to the Capitoline Triad, would always be built with three cellae, one for each god of the triad: Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva.
  • This creates an effect of columns completely surrounding a cella, an effect known as psuedoperipteral.
  • The temple consists a circular cella within a concentric ring of 20 Corinthian columns.

• Architecture at Pompeii

  • Like typical Roman temples, the portico and cella rest on a raised platform connected to the ground by a central stairway.
  • To either side of the cella is an arched niche flanked by either Corinthian or Composite pillasters.

• Architecture in the Greek High Classical Period

  • The circular wall of the cella was also crowned by a similar frieze, metopes, and triglyphs to a lesser extent.

• Architecture in the Hellenistic Period

  • It was to be flanked by a double colonnade of eight columns across the front and back and twenty-one on the flanks, surrounding the cella.

• Roman Sculpture under the Republic

  • Despite its most common title, the "Altar" of Domitius Ahenobarbus (late second century BCE) was more likely a base intended to support cult statues in the cella of a Temple of Neptune (Poseidon) located in Rome on the Field of Mars.