posticum

[ po-stahy-kuhm ]

noun

, plural pos·ti·ca [po-, stahy, -k, uh].

1. epinaos.
2. opisthodomos ( def 1 ).

Word History and Origins

Origin of posticum¹

1695–1705; < Latin postīcum backdoor, back part (of a building), noun use of neuter of postīcus. See posticous

Example Sentences

Their plan is extremely simple: a parallelogram, formed in some cases entirely of columns, in others with walls at the side and columns at the ends only, encloses a second and considerably smaller pillared space known as the cella or naos, that enshrined the image of the god to whom the building was dedicated, and was entered from a pronaos or porch, and with a posticum or back space behind it, sometimes supplemented by a kind of second cella called the opisthodomus or back temple.

From Project Gutenberg

Posticum is the back Gate of a Fabrick.

From Project Gutenberg

The Parts of the Square Temples, were for the most part Five; for they had almost every one of them a Porch before the Temple called Pronaos, and another Porch behind the Temple, called Posticum, or Opisthedomos, the middle of the Temple, called Cella, or Sacos; the Portico’s or Isles, and the Gate.

From Project Gutenberg

Temples divided in the Greek and Tuscan Fashion; of the Greek some were round, and some square; in the square Temples of the Greeks three things are to be considered; 1. the Parts, which are five, the Porch, the Posticum, 117. the Middle, the Portico, and the Gates, which were of three sorts, viz.

From Project Gutenberg

The Posticum of the Temple was equal to the Porch, having likewise a Gate, but all Temples had not Posticums,118 though almost every Temple had its Pronaos, or Porch.

From Project Gutenberg