Editing Cella (section)

==Greek and Roman temples==
[[Image:Paestum, Italy (15222876955).jpg|thumb|[[Ancient Greece|Greek]] [[Paestum|Temple of Apollo at Paestum]] with centrally located ''cella'']]
In ancient [[Greek temple|Greek]] and [[Roman temple]]s, the ''cella'' was a room at the center of the building, usually containing a [[cult image]] or statue representing the particular deity venerated in the temple. In addition, the ''cella'' might contain a table to receive supplementary [[votive offering]]s, such as votive statues of associated deities, precious and semi-precious stones, [[helmet]]s, [[spear]] and [[arrow]] heads, [[sword]]s, and [[war trophy|war trophies]]. No gatherings or sacrifices took place in the ''cella'', as the altar for sacrifices was always located outside the building along the axis and temporary altars for other deities were built next to it.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Sarah Iles Johnston |title=Religions of the Ancient World: A Guide |date=2004 |publisher=Harvard University Press |isbn=0674015177 |page=278}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last = Klauck |first = Hans-Josef |author-link = Hans-Josef Klauck |title=Religious Context of Early Christianity: A Guide To Graeco-Roman Religions |date=2003 |publisher=A&C Black |isbn=0567089436 |page=23 |edition=reprint}}</ref> The accumulated offerings made Greek and Roman temples virtual [[treasury|treasuries]], and many of them were indeed used as treasuries during [[classical antiquity|antiquity]].

[[Image:La Maison carrée.JPG|thumb|left|The [[Maison Carrée]] at [[Nîmes]] with its ''cella'' offset behind the [[hexastyle]] [[portico]]]]
The ''cella'' was typically a simple, windowless, rectangular room with a door or open entrance at the front behind a colonnaded [[portico]] facade. In larger temples, the ''cella'' was typically divided by two [[colonnade]]s into a central [[nave]] flanked by two [[aisle]]s. A ''cella'' may also contain an ''[[adyton]]'', an inner area restricted to access by the priests—in religions that had a consecrated priesthood—or by the temple guard.

With very few exceptions, Greek buildings were of a [[Peripteros|peripteral]] design that placed the ''cella'' in the center of the plan, such as the [[Parthenon]] and the [[Paestum|Temple of Apollo at Paestum]]. The Romans favoured [[pseudoperipteral]] buildings with a portico offsetting the ''cella'' to the rear. The pseudoperipteral plan uses [[engaged column]]s embedded along the side and rear walls of the ''cella''.{{Citation needed|date=September 2021}} The [[Temple of Venus and Roma]] built by [[Hadrian]] in Rome had two ''cellae'' arranged back-to-back enclosed by a single outer [[peristyle]].{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}}
{{clear}}