Adytum

Adytum
Adytum: • A secret chamber or place of retirement in the ancient temples, and esteemed the most sacred spot; the innermost sanctuary or shrine
Adytum:     Adytum

    ^{† Catholic_Encyclopedia ► Adytum}

    (From adyton; sc. a privative + dyo=enter).

    A secret chamber or place of retirement in the ancient temples, and esteemed the most sacred spot; the innermost sanctuary or shrine. None but the officiating priests were permitted to enter. From this place the oracles were given. The Holy of Holies, or Sanctum Sanctorum, of the temple of Solomon was of the nature of the pagan adytum; none but the High Priest being admitted into it, and he but once a year. Among the Egyptians the secos was the same thing, and is described by Strabo. A well-preserved adytum that has come to our knowledge is in the little temple in Pompeii; it is raised some steps above the level of the temple itself, and is without light. In Christian architecture it sometimes signifies the chancel, or altar end of a church. (See CHANCEL.)

    THOMAS H. POOLE

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adytum — ⇒ADYTUM, ADYTON, subst. masc. RELIG. ANC. Chambre secrète dans les temples, située généralement en face de la porte principale, en partie au dessous du sol du temple, et où les prêtres seuls étaient admis : • 1. ... les colonnes sont debout… … Encyclopédie Universelle
ADYTUM — templi apud Gentiles locus, quem adire non licet: τὸ ἀπ´χρυφον μέρος τȏυ ἱεροῦ. Item Βέτης seu Βαίτης Graecis. Caesar de Bello Civ. l. 3. c. 105. Pergami in occultis et remotis templi, quo praeter Sacerdotes adire fas non est, quae Graece ἄδυτα… … Hofmann J. Lexicon universale
Adytum — Ad y*tum, n. {Adyta}. [L., fr. Gr. ?, n., fr. ?, a., not to be entered; a priv. + ? to enter.] The innermost sanctuary or shrine in ancient temples, whence oracles were given. Hence: A private chamber; a sanctum. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Adytum — Adytum, das Allerheiligste in den Tempeln … Herders Conversations-Lexikon
adytum — [ad′i təm] n. pl. adyta [ad′itə] [L < Gr adyton, neut. of adytos, not to be entered < a , not + dyein, to enter] 1. the innermost room or shrine in certain old temples, to be entered only by priests 2. a sanctum … English World dictionary
Adytum — Adyton eines Peripteros Adyton (altgriech. ἄδυτον, ádyton: das Unzugängliche; lat. adytum) heißt der nach außen gänzlich abgeschlossene Rückraum der Cella eines altgriechischen Tempels. Er befindet sich im Tempelgrundriss an der Stelle des… … Deutsch Wikipedia
adytum — (a di tom ) s. m. Terme d antiquité. Chambre particulière ou secrète dans un temple. ÉTYMOLOGIE Adytum ; le terme grec est dérivé de deux mots signifiant privatif et je pénètre … Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré
adytum — noun (plural adyta) Etymology: Latin, from Greek adyton, neuter of adytos not to be entered, from a + dyein to enter Date: 1611 the innermost sanctuary in an ancient temple open only to priests ; sanctum … New Collegiate Dictionary
adytum — /ad i teuhm/, n., pl. adyta / teuh/. 1. (in ancient worship) a sacred place that the public was forbidden to enter; an inner shrine. 2. the most sacred or reserved part of any place of worship. [1665 75; < L < Gk ádyton (place) not to be entered … Universalium
adytum — sacred part of a temple or church; church chancel Ecclesiastical Terms … Phrontistery dictionary

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Adytum

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