Cella

Definition

A cella is the inner chamber of a temple, where the cult statue of the deity is housed and where worship takes place. This sacred space is typically surrounded by a colonnade and serves as the focal point of the temple's religious activities, emphasizing the importance of the divine presence in various architectural styles.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The cella is often the most important part of ancient temples, being where rituals and offerings to the deity took place.
2. In Neo-Babylonian architecture, such as that seen in temples like the Esagila, the cella was designed with an elevated platform to showcase the deity's statue prominently.
3. In Archaic Greek temples, the cella was typically flanked by columns, forming a peristyle that provided both structural support and an aesthetic framing of the sacred space.
4. The Parthenon, a prime example of Classical Greek architecture, features a spacious cella that housed an enormous gold and ivory statue of Athena, showcasing its religious significance.
5. Etruscan temples had a distinct cella design with multiple rooms for different deities, reflecting their unique religious practices and architectural styles.

Review Questions

• How does the design of the cella contribute to the overall functionality and symbolism of ancient temples?
  • The design of the cella is crucial for both functionality and symbolism in ancient temples. It serves as the heart of worship, housing the cult statue and acting as a space for rituals and offerings. The architectural elements surrounding it, like columns or a colonnade, create a sense of sacredness and draw attention to this inner sanctum, reinforcing its importance in religious practices and beliefs.
• Compare and contrast the role of the cella in Neo-Babylonian architecture with that in Classical Greek architecture.
  • In Neo-Babylonian architecture, the cella was often elevated and grandly designed to highlight the deity's presence, emphasizing power and divinity through elaborate decorations. In contrast, Classical Greek architecture featured a more harmonious balance between aesthetic beauty and functional purpose in its cella design. While both served as sacred spaces for worship, Greek temples often included surrounding colonnades that enhanced their overall grandeur, whereas Neo-Babylonian temples focused on monumental elevation.
• Evaluate how Etruscan temple architecture reflects cultural values through its design and use of the cella.
  • Etruscan temple architecture demonstrates cultural values through its unique use of the cella by incorporating multiple rooms dedicated to different deities. This reflects their polytheistic beliefs and emphasizes communal worship practices. The design also showcases an openness to interaction with the divine, as worshippers could engage with various aspects of their religious life within these distinct chambers. This architectural choice illustrates how deeply religion was interwoven into Etruscan society and its values.

Related terms

Naos: The Greek term for the cella, referring to the main inner chamber of a temple where the statue of the god was located.

Colonnade:

A row of columns supporting a structure or serving as a walkway, often surrounding the cella in temple architecture.

Cult Statues: Statues representing deities that were placed in the cella for worship and offerings by the faithful.