Adytum
Adytum
(From adyton; sc. a privative + dyo=enter).
A secret chamber or place of retirement in the ancient temples, and esteemed the most sacred spot; the innermost sanctuary or shrine. None but the officiating priests were permitted to enter. From this place the oracles were given. The Holy of Holies, or Sanctum Sanctorum, of the temple of Solomon was of the nature of the pagan adytum; none but the high priest being admitted into it, and he but once a year. Among the Egyptians the secos was the same thing, and is described by Strabo. A well-preserved adytum that has come to our knowledge is in the little temple in Pompeii; it is raised some steps above the level of the temple itself, and is without light. In Christian architecture it sometimes signifies the chancel, or altar end of a church. (See CHANCEL.)
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THOMAS H. POOLE
The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume ICopyright © 1907 by Robert Appleton CompanyOnline Edition Copyright © 2003 by K. KnightNihil Obstat, March 1, 1907. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., CensorImprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York
Fuente: Catholic Encyclopedia
Adytum
(from , inaccessible), the shrine or inner room of a sacred building; hence applied in later times to the penetralia of the Temple at Jerusalem, which were accessible to the priests alone, especially the sanctuary, or
holy place, and still more to the holy of holies, or inmost chamber. Ecclesiastical writers also employ it metaphorically to denote the recesses of the heart or spiritual nature, and sometimes to designate the deeper mysteries of divine truth. See AGION.
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
Adytum
adi-tum (Latin from Greek , aduton, adjective adutos, not to be entered): Applied to the innermost sanctuary or chambers in ancient temples, and to secret places which were open only to priests: hence, also to the Holy of Holies in the Jewish temple. See TEMPLE.
Fuente: International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Adytum
is a Greek word, signifying inaccessible, by which is understood the most retired and secret place of the Heathen temples, into which, none but the priests were allowed to enter. The adytum of the Greeks and Romans answered to the sanctum sanctorum of the Jews, and was the place from whence oracles were delivered.