Layout of Greek Temples

Ancient Greek Mythology, Religion, Art

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This diagram shows the main features of a Greek temple. Greek temples were constructed according to very regular principles that were maintained with little change over the course of hundreds of years. For the Greeks their temples were sacred sites of universal order and harmony, thus tampering with the rules would not have been appropriate.

The most important feature, one that can be found in every style, is the naos (Latin: cella). It was here that the cult statue of the god was kept, as well as certain other sacred items. Actual religious rites were held outside the temple, not in the naos. Temples themselves were oriented east-west so that the priest could face east when performing the rituals, such as offering sacrifices.

In front of the naos is a pronaos (Latin: anticum, prodomus), an antechamber usually situated between columns or walls. In the back is the opisthodomus (Latin: posticum), a feature not seen in earlier temples but added later on. It rarely had direct access to the naos.

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