naos

In archaeology, a temple, as distinguished from hieron, a shrine (chapel) or sanctuary (in this latter sense not necessarily implying the presence of any edifice).

In architecture, the inclosed chamber or cella of an ancient temple, where were placed the statue and a ceremonial altar of the divinity.

A term used by modern archæologists instead of cella. See cella.

The inner part of a Greek temple; it contained a statue of the appropriate deity surrounded by a colonnaded portico; it gave rise to the Roman cella