opisthodomos

Examples of opisthodomos in the following topics:

• Temple Architecture in the Greek Archaic Period

  • A rear room, called the opisthodomos, was on the other side of the temple and naos.
  • A wall separated the naos and opisthodomos completely.
  • The opisthodomos was used as a treasury and held the votives and offerings left at the temple for the god or goddess.
  • The opisthodomos is accessed through the naos by two doors.
  • The opisthodomos was separated from the naos and had its own entrance and set of columns in antis.

• Aegina

  • Both the pronaos and opisthodomos have two prostyle columns in antis and exterior access, although both lead into the temple's naos.
  • Despite the connection between the opisthodomos and the naos, the doorway between them is much smaller than the doorway between the naos and the pronaos.

• The Temple of Athena Nike

  • Both the pronaos and opisthodomos are very small, nearly non-existent, and are defined by their four prostyle columns.

• The Parthenon

  • In front of both the pronaos and opisthodomos is a single row of prostyle columns.
  • The opisthodomos is large, accounting for the size of the treasury of the Delian League, which Pericles moved from Delos to the Parthenon.

• Marble Sculpture and Architecture in the Greek Early Classical Period

  • It has two columns directly connected to the walls of the temple, known as in antis, in front of both the entranceway (pronaos) and the inner shrine (opisthodomos).
  • The twelve metopes over the pronaos and opisthodomos depict scenes from the twelve labors of Herakles.

• The Acropolis

  • In front of both the pronaos (porch) and opisthodomos is a single row of prostyle columns.
  • The opisthodomos is large, accounting for the size of the treasury of the Delian League, which Pericles moved from Delos to the Parthenon.
  • Both the pronaos and opisthodomos are very small, nearly non-existent, and are defined by their four prostyle columns.