Narthex
Pronunciation
- US IPA: /ˈnɑɹθɛks/
- UK IPA: /ˈnÉ‘Ëθɛks/
Origin
From Ancient Greek νάÏθηξ (narthÄ“ks, "giant fennel"), later ‘casket’ (modern Greek νάÏθηκας).
Full definition of narthex
Noun
- (architecture) A western vestibule leading to the nave in some (especially Orthodox) Christian churches.
- 1942, Rebecca West, Black Lamb and Grey Falcon, we were in the antechamber, called the narthex, which runs across the front of any Byzantine church ....
- 2007, Edwin Mullins, The Popes of Avignon, Blue Bridge 2008, p. 87:One of these was Cardinal Jacopo Stefaneschi, ... who had now conceived ambitious plans for paintings to decorate the entire narthex, or entrance porch, of Avignon's ancient cathedral.