ante-temple
(ˈæntɪtɛmp(ə)l)
[ad. med.L. ante-templum, f. ante before + templum temple, transl. Gr. πρόνᾱος pronaos.]
The portico of an ancient temple or of a Christian church; also applied to the ante-nave of a church.
| 1703 Maundrell Journ. Jerus. (1721) 136 The Temple is an oblong square..in length sixty-four [yards], of which eighteen were taken up by the Πρόναος or Anti-Temple. 1711 Bingham Chr. Antiq. (1840) III. viii. §3. 394 The narthex or ‘antetemple,’ where the penitents and catechumens stood. 1876 Gwilt Encycl. Arch. 1284 Narthex..an ante-temple or vestibule outside the church; it is thus used as synonymous with porch and portico. |