Dayr Abu Fanah - Coptic Wiki

Niche – Architectural Elements Of Churches

Niche A niche is a recess in a wall. It may hold useful objects or decorative objects, such as statues, or may itself be a decorative element. Practical niches inside buildings serve as cupboards. Intended to store objects that might be lost or broken if left on the floor, they are usually at a convenient …

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Narthex – Architectural Elements Of Churches

System / By Youssef Matta

Narthex A narthex is a vestibule of a church, corresponding to the pronaos (porch) of a classical temple. The Greek word means literally “a reedlike plant.” In the sixth century, Procopius of Caesarea, evidently for the first time, described the antechamber of a church as a narthex because it was small (Procopius De aedificiis 1.4.7, …

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Apse – Architectural Elements Of Churches

System / By Youssef Matta

Apse An apse is an extension of a rectangular hall, usually semicircular and roofed by a semicircular dome. Because of its strong visual effect, it draws every eye to itself and therefore was used in Roman temples to display the image of the god and in Roman basilicas for the emperor’s throne. For similar reasons, …

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