Adytum

or Adyton, Gr. and R. ( ἄδυτον, from α, priv., and δύω, to enter). An obscure and secret sanctuary in certain temples from which the public was excluded, and into which the priests alone might enter. The little temple of Pompeii po e ed an adytum, and it was here that was discovered the Portici Diana now in the Naples Museum. There was also an adytum in the temple of Delphi, which was burnt down in the first year of the 58th Olym., and rebuilt by the Corinthian Spin thar us. The temple of Paphos contained in its adytum a representation of the godde under the form of a column pointed at the top and surrounded by candelabra. The engraving shows the position of the adytum of a small Doric temple, now destroyed, which once stood near the theatre of Mar cell us at Rome. The adytum was the name given to the cella of a temple, in which oracles were given, or the worship was connected with mysteries. See Abaton and Cella.