Columbarium

A dove-cote or pigeon-house, often constructed to hold as many as 4000 or 5000 birds. In the plural the term has many meanings. (1) It denotes the pigeon-holes or cells for the nests in a pigeon-house. (2) In a sepulchral chamber, the niches for holding the cinerary urns ( ollæ ). Fig. 182 represents the numerous columbaria in the tomb of the freedmen of Octavia. In the sepulchral architecture of the Jews, the rock-hewn walls forming the vestibules of certain tombs were honey-combed with minute columbaria, in which only lamps were placed. Fig. 183 represents cells of this character taken from the tomb of Quoublet-el-Endeh. (3) The openings in the side of a ship through which the oars pa ed. (4) The holes made in a wall to receive the head of a tie-beam. (5) The openings of the scoops in a particular kind of hydraulic wheel called Tympanum (q.v.). IMG:6949005855195395773_fig_183.jpg: Fig. 183. Columbaria in rock-hewn walls.