Narthex

Pronunciation

• US IPA: /ˈnɑɹθɛks/
• UK IPA: /ˈnɑːθɛks/

Origin

From Ancient Greek νάρθηξ (narthēks, "giant fennel"), later ‘casket’ (modern Greek νάρθηκας).

Full definition of narthex

Noun

1. (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.

Derived terms

• endonarthex
• exonarthex