Atrium (Catholic Encyclopedia article)
Thomas Poole · 1913
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Description
In early church building, an atrium was a large open court set before the church itself. Covered walks ringed it on four sides, and worshippers crossed it between porch and nave. A fountain at its center let them wash their hands before going in, a custom that lives on in the holy-water font. Penitents stood there to ask prayers from those entering, and the court also served as a burial ground.
Famous early examples include old St Peter's in Rome and Hagia Sophia in Constantinople. The form survived in places such as St Clement's in Rome and St Ambrose in Milan. The entry adds a second, secular sense from Roman houses, where the atrium was the main entrance hall. There it was lit through a roof opening called the compluvium, with rain caught in a floor basin called the impluvium.
Catalog record
| CREATOR | Thomas Poole |
|---|---|
| YEAR | 1913 |
| COLLECTION | REFERENCE |
| FORMAT | TXT |
| FILE SIZE | 2 KB |
| LICENSE | PUBLIC_DOMAIN |
| RIGHTS | PUBLIC DOMAIN |
| SOURCE | New Advent — Catholic Encyclopedia (1913) |