Naïskos

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Grabnaïskos des Aristonautes , from Kerameikos in Athens, around 320 BC. Chr.

A Naïskos ( Greek  ναΐσκος " little temple", diminutive to naós "temple") is a small temple in a classic building order with columns or pillars with a triangular gable. It was also used as an artistic motif . In this usage it is not uncommon. It can be found in the architecture of temples such as in Aigeira or Didyma , but especially in the small architecture of Greek cemeteries as grave reliefs or shrines such as on the Kerameikos in Athens and in the red-figure Greek vase painting as Naïskos vases . Such Naiskoi show portraits of the person who had died. The pillars between the outer walls are not shown. There are also figurines by Naiskoi or other types of temples that were executed in terracotta , such as the one in the Louvre in Paris . These could have been votive offerings and served as small shrines in private living quarters. The naiskos always has a religious background, especially in the cult of the dead among the ancient Greeks.

Another word for a comparable structure in ancient Rome is the aedicula , which however is not the same as a naiskos. It also occurs as a grave complex. Sometimes, however, as with triumphal arches, it has a representative public function. The Greek Naiskos did not have this.

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