nymphaeum

[ nim-fee-uhm ]

noun

, plural nym·phae·a [nim-, fee, -, uh].

1. a room or area having a fountain, statues, flowers, etc.
2. an architecturally treated outlet of a reservoir or aqueduct.

Word History and Origins

Origin of nymphaeum¹

1760–70; < Latin < Greek nymphaîon place sacred to nymphs, noun use of neuter of nymphaîos, equivalent to nýmph ( ē ) nymph + -aios adj. suffix

Example Sentences

In fact, its a nymphaeum – a fancy water feature belonging to the Emperor Commodus.

From National Geographic

She still had nightmares about the nymphaeum and the hypogeum under Rome.

From Literature

Next Thing: She can’t reveal much, but she plans to construct a modern-day nymphaeum in Florence, Italy — a natural grotto devoted to nymphs used by Ancient Greeks and Romans.

From New York Times

But this spring, Italy’s Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Cultural Activities and Tourism will open the Nymphaeum Museum of Piazza Vittorio, a subterranean gallery that will showcase a section of the imperial garden that was unearthed during an excavation from 2006 to 2015.

From New York Times

Ground was broken for the Nymphaeum Museum in 2017.

From New York Times