pronaos

Pronaos is an architectural term for the vestibule or porch that precedes the cella (naos) in classical temples, particularly in ancient Greek architecture. It forms the first enclosed space encountered upon entering the temple’s interior through the front access, and it is typically defined by a row of columns or by projecting antae that create a shallow porch before the main chamber.

In a Greek temple, the pronaos is situated between the exterior of the temple and the naos, functioning as a transitional space for worshippers and processions. Its extent and articulation vary by order and temple type. In the antis arrangement, the side walls (antae) project outward, framing the pronaos as a porch between them. In temples designed with a prostyle front, a row of columns may stand in front of the naos, forming a proper porch that is still considered the pronaos.

The naos (cellā) is the innermost sanctuary housing the cult statue, and behind the pronaos may lie the opisthodomos, a rear room that served as a storage or treasury space. The pronaos is distinct from these interior spaces but directly related to their accessible approach.

The term is also used in later Roman temples and in neo-classical contexts to describe a comparable entrance porch or vestibule. While the specific architectural treatment of the pronaos can vary, its essential role remains a protective, transitional space that frames access to the sacred interior.