In classical temple architecture, what is the chief room where the statue of the god was located called?

Prepare for the HSC Pompeii and Herculaneum Exam with flashcards and multiple choice questions both with detailed hints and explanations. Ace your exam confidently!

In classical temple architecture, the chief room where the statue of the god was located is referred to as the cella. This inner chamber of the temple is central to its purpose, designed to house the cult statue of the deity to whom the temple is dedicated. The cella is typically surrounded by columns and represents the sacred space where worship and rituals took place.

The arrangement of a temple often involves a pronaos, which is the entrance or porch that leads into the cella, but does not serve the same function as the primary storage space for the deity's statue. The naos is often used interchangeably with cella, but in strict terms, the cella is the more specific term for the god's room in the temple context. The adyton refers to a more restricted inner area that was usually off-limits to most worshippers and could serve specific religious functions, but it is not specifically where the statue of the god is located in the context of the temple.

Therefore, given its function and definition, the cella is the correct term for the room housing the statue of the god in classical temple architecture.

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