An anta temple (templum in antis) is one of the simplest forms of ancient Greek temple, in which the side walls of the cella extend forward beyond the front facade, terminating in pilaster-like piers called antae.
This arrangement creates a shallow porch (pronaos) framed by the two antae, usually with two columns standing between them.
Layout and structure
The basic plan of an anta temple consists of three elements:
1. Cella (naos) — the enclosed rectangular room that housed the cult statue. 2. Antae — the thickened or decorated ends of the side walls where they project beyond the front wall. An anta is not a free-standing column; it is a continuation of the wall, often finished with a distinctive capital that differs in profile from the column capitals. 3. Columns in antis — typically two columns placed between the antae, supporting the entablature and roof above the porch.
If the same arrangement is repeated at the rear of the building, the temple is described as having a double anta plan (amphiprostyle in antis or distyle in antis at both ends).
Historical context
The anta temple is considered the earliest temple type in Greek architecture, evolving from simple megaron-style buildings of the Bronze Age. Small treasury buildings at Olympia and Delphi follow this plan, as do a number of minor shrines and chapels throughout the Greek world.
Because of its compact size and structural simplicity, the anta temple was often chosen for treasuries — small buildings erected by individual city-states to store valuable offerings at pan-Hellenic sanctuaries.
Anta versus column
An important distinction in classical architecture is that an anta is not a column. It is a wall-end, and its capital typically has a simpler, flatter profile than the capitals used on the free-standing columns of the same building. This difference is visible in many surviving examples.
Significance
The anta temple laid the groundwork for more elaborate temple types — the prostyle, amphiprostyle and peripteral temples — by establishing the basic relationship between enclosed room, porch and supporting columns.
Related terms
- Peripteral temple
- Pronaos
- Cella (naos)
- Pilaster