Adyton

Adyton ( Greek: ἄδυτον, Adyton: the inaccessible; Latin Adytum ) is called the completely closed to the outside rear area of the cella of an ancient Greek temple. It is located in the Temple floor plan in the place of opisthodomus.

In some ancient temples, especially those of Oracle or healing deities, the Holy of Holies was separated with the venerated image of the deity from the main room of the temple and could be entered only by priests ( Caesar De Bello Civili III, 105; Virgil 's Aeneid VI, 98). Is known about the Adyton the Temple of Apollo at Delphi where the Pythia sitting on the tripod the oracles of God proclaimed, which were then transmitted by priests to questioning believers.

That the Adyton from the main room of the temple, is Cella different, going from one place in Lucan ( Pharsalia V, 141-161 ) shows where the priestess fears the violent seizures that she has to endure as a result of stimulants, which they in must take the secret room, so as to put yourself in prophetic enthusiasm ( pavens adyti penetrale RemoTI fatidicum ). Therefore, it remains in the temple and refuses to go into the Adytum or the cave ( antrum ), as it is called Lucan, until they are into driving force.

The Adyton appears mainly in temples of the 6th century (rare in later ) and usually in the Greek West ( Sicily and southern Italy, especially in the temples of Selinunte ).

Sometimes Adyton is used synonymously with Abaton. The term was not common in ancient times and found only in modern times input in the nomenclature.