cella

Cella is a term with multiple meanings in different fields. In classical architecture, a cella is the inner chamber of a temple that houses the cult statue and is typically the most sacred part of the sanctuary. In Greek usage the equivalent term is naos; in many temples the cella is surrounded by columns and may be divided into smaller rooms or sub-chambers. The cella is distinct from the pronaos, an antechamber at the temple front, and from the opisthodomos, a rear room. The design and size of the cella varied with temple plan and cult practices.

In modern usage, the word originates from Latin cella, meaning a storeroom or small room, and it has been retained in scholarly discussions of ancient architecture. In Italian and other Romance languages, cella simply means a cell, a small room, or a storage compartment. In biology, however, the English word for the basic unit of life is "cell"; in Italian, that unit is called "cella."

Cella can appear as a surname and as a place name in Italian-speaking regions, and may be encountered in historical or architectural writings referencing temples and sanctuaries. The term is primarily of use to students of classical architecture, archaeology, and art history, who distinguish between the cella and other interior spaces of a temple.