prytaneum

[ prit-n-ee-uhm ]

noun

1. a public building in ancient Greece, containing the symbolic hearth of the community and commonly resembling a private dwelling in plan, used as a community meeting place and as a lodging for guests of the community.

prytaneum

/ ˌprɪtəˈniːəm /

noun

1. the public hall of a city in ancient Greece

Word History and Origins

Origin of prytaneum¹

1590–1600; < Latin prytanēum < Greek prytaneîon, akin to prýtanis prince, ruler, chief

Word History and Origins

Origin of prytaneum¹

Latin, from Greek prutaneion, from prutanis, prutaneus

Example Sentences

As Hestia had her home in the prytaneum, special temples dedicated to her are of rare occurrence.

From Project Gutenberg

In this character her special sanctuary was in the prytaneum, where the common hearth-fire round which the magistrates meet is ever burning, and where the sacred rites that sanctify the concord of city life are performed.

From Project Gutenberg

To the east of the space in front of the temple was an oblong building of two chambers, with a colonnade on each side but not in front; this may have been the Prytaneum or some other official building; beyond it is the most interesting and characteristic of all the monuments of Delphi.

From Project Gutenberg

Perhaps, the most striking is a scene from Smith's Classical Dictionary, in which Agamemnon is represented as blowing a kiss, across the Prytaneum, to Clytemnestra, who is pacing the Bema, in the absence of her guardian on a secret expedition. �gisthus appears in the background, detained by some law business, and the Chorus is endeavouring to convince him that he is in the wrong.

From Project Gutenberg

Prytaneum, prit-an-ē′um, n. the town-hall of an ancient Greek city where ambassadors were received, and citizens who had deserved well of the state were sometimes allowed to dine at the public expense.

From Project Gutenberg