narthex

views updated May 14 2018

narthex.
1. Church vestibule, in Byzantine churches of two kinds: an esonarthex or inner narthex, between the outer porch and the body of the church proper separated from the nave and aisles by a wall, arcade, colonnade, or screen; or an exonarthex or outer narthex outside the main wall, sometimes also serving as the portico or part of the cloistered atrium or quadriporticus.

2. Medieval ante-church often with nave and aisles, sometimes referred to as a Galilee porch, as at Durham Cathedral.

Bibliography

Mango (1986);
J. Parker (1850);
D. Watkin (1986)

narthex

views updated May 21 2018

nar·thex / ˈnär[unvoicedth]eks/ • n. an antechamber, porch, or distinct area at the western entrance of some early Christian churches, separated off by a railing and used by catechumens, penitents, etc. ∎  an antechamber or large porch in a modern church.

narthex

views updated Jun 11 2018

narthex an antechamber, porch, or distinct area at the western entrance of some early Christian churches, separated off by a railing and used by catechumens, penitents, and others; an antechamber or large porch in a modern church. Recorded from the late 17th century, the word comes via Latin from Greek narthēx.

narthex

views updated May 11 2018

narthex (archit.) vestibule extending across the west end of a church. XVII. — L. narthēx — Gr. nárthēx giant fennel, stick, casket, narthex.