Aedicula

Aedicula

In Roman religion, an aedicula (pl. "aediculae") is a small shrine. The word "aedicula" is the diminutive of the Latin "aedis" or "aedes", a temple or house; thus, an aedicula is literally a small house or temple.Many aediculae were household shrines that held small altars or statues of the Lares and Penates. The Lares were Roman deities protecting the house and the family household gods. The Penates were originally patron gods (really genii) of the storeroom, later becoming household gods guarding the entire house.

Other aediculae were small shrines within larger temples, usually set on a base, surmounted by a pediment and surrounded by columns. In Roman architecture the aedicula has this representative function in the society. They are installed in public buildings like the Triumphal arch, City gate, or Thermes. The Celsus Library in Ephesus (2. c. AD) is a good example.

Similar small shrines, called Naiskos, are found in Greek religion, but their use was strictly religious.

Aediculae exist today in Roman cemeteries as a part of funeral architecture.

References

*Adkins, Lesley & Adkins, Roy A. (1996). "Dictionary of Roman Religion". Facts on File, inc. ISBN 0-8160-3005-7.
*1911


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  • AEDICULA — apud Minucium Fel. Templum quod ei (Deo) exstruam, cum totus hic mundus eum capere non possit. et cum homo latius maneam, intra unam aediculam vim tantae Masestatis includam? Idem cum Aede exigua Tibulli, l. 1. Eleg. 10. Paupere cultu Stabat in… …   Hofmann J. Lexicon universale

  • aedicula — AEDÍCULA [E DI ] s. f. (ant.) templu în miniatură; capelă mică. (< lat. aedicula) Trimis de raduborza, 08.01.2009. Sursa: MDN …   Dicționar Român

  • aediculă — AEDÍCULĂ s.f. (Ant.) Templu în miniatură; capelă mică, v. edicul. [pron. ed . / < lat. aedicula]. Trimis de LauraGellner, 13.09.2007. Sursa: DN …   Dicționar Român

  • Aedicŭla — (lat.), 1) kleiner Tempel, Kapelle; 2) Nische in Tempeln, worin das Götterbild stand …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Aedicŭla — (lat., »Häuschen«), Tempel, Kapelle, Nische, Ahnenbilderschränkchen …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Aedicula — Aedicula,   die Ädikula …   Universal-Lexikon

  • Aedicula — Ädikula, schematische Darstellung Ädikula in dem Niebuhr Grabmal auf dem Alten Friedhof in Bonn nach einem Entwurf von …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • AEDICULA TOMBS —    Aedicula tombs are a distinctive class of tombs found particularly in Populonia, taking the form of a small house formed from shaped blocks and dating to the sixth century BC …   Historical Dictionary of the Etruscans

  • aedicula — /ee dik yeuh leuh/, n., pl. aediculae / lee /. aedicule. * * * …   Universalium

  • aedicula — noun a) A painted framed niche giving the appearance of depth. b) A small shrine …   Wiktionary

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