piscina

views updated May 14 2018

piscina. (pl. piscinae). Stone basin connected with a drainage channel for carrying away the water used in rinsing the vessels employed at Mass and washing the hands of the Priest. It was usually set in a niche in the south wall of a chancel in a church to be near the altar, though it was sometimes carried on a short colonnette or projected from the face of a wall. Piscinae, which were often equipped with a credence-table for the vessels, were frequently ornamented with an elaborate canopy, sometimes designed as part of the sedilia installation, in which case the ensemble was called prismatory.

piscina

views updated May 21 2018

piscina a stone basin near the altar in Catholic and pre-Reformation churches for draining water used in the Mass.

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