The cella (also known as naos) is the enclosed inner chamber of a Greco-Roman temple, which housed the cult statue of the deity. It is the most sacred and essential element of temple architecture.
Origin and meaning
The word “cella” comes from Latin and literally means “small room” or “storeroom.” In Greek architecture, the same space is referred to as the naos. The cella formed the functional heart of the temple: the room for which the entire building was ultimately designed.
Unlike modern churches, the cella was not intended as a gathering place for worshippers. The space was typically accessible only to priests and selected individuals. The public performed their religious rituals outside, at the altar positioned in front of the temple.
Architectural characteristics
The cella is typically a rectangular, walled room at the centre of the temple. Its key features include:
- Entrance: usually on the east side, accessed through a portico (pronaos)
- Walls: massive stone walls without windows, creating a dark, mysterious atmosphere
- Cult statue: the monumental image of the deity was placed at the far end, facing the entrance
- Dimensions: varied greatly, from small chapels to the enormous cella of the Parthenon (approximately 30 x 19 metres)
In larger temples, the cella was sometimes divided internally by rows of columns supporting the roof. Some temples, such as the Temple of Zeus at Olympia, featured a cella divided into a central nave and two side aisles.
Application
The cella is found in virtually all Greco-Roman temples, from small rural shrines to grand civic temples. Famous examples include the Parthenon in Athens, the Pantheon in Rome, and the Temple of Hera at Paestum. In architectural history, the cella is a fundamental concept for studying and classifying temple types. The term is also applied to Etruscan and early Roman temple forms.
Related terms
- Naos
- Pronaos
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