pronaos

American  

[proh-ney-os] / proʊˈneɪ ɒs /

noun

plural

pronaoi

1. (in a classical temple) an open vestibule before the cella.

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Etymology

Origin of pronaos

From the Greek word prónāos, dating back to 1605–15. See pro- ², naos

Example Sentences

The pronaos gave admittance to the sanctuary, the holy of holies, an immeasurable empty space, without image, without altar, without anything.

From The Tour A Story of Ancient Egypt by Couperus, Louis

The terrace outside of the colonnade is 25 feet wide, and the pronaos or walk within the colonnade, including the column space, 25 feet.

From History of the Washington National Monument and of the Washington National Monument Society by Harvey, Frederick Loviad

The twelve sculptured metopes of the temple do not belong to the exterior frieze, whose metopes were plain, but to a second frieze, placed above the columns and antae of pronaos and opisthodomos.

From A History of Greek Art by Tarbell, Frank Bigelow

And, on the same account, the Romans placed a Sphynx in the pronaos, or porch, of their temples.

From The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction Volume 10, No. 265, July 21, 1827 by Various

Ligorio describes the structure as a round temple, with a pronaos of six columns of the composite order.

From Pagan and Christian Rome by Lanciani, Rodolfo Amedeo