The ''peristasis'' () was a four-sided

porch A porch (; , ) is a room or gallery located in front of an entrance to a building. A porch is placed in front of the façade of a building it commands, and forms a low front. Alternatively, it may be a vestibule (architecture), vestibule (a s ...

or hallway of columns surrounding the ''

cella In Classical architecture, a or naos () is the inner chamber of an ancient Greek or Roman temple. Its enclosure within walls has given rise to extended meanings: of a hermit's or monk's cell, and (since the 17th century) of a biological cell ...

'' (''naos'') in an ancient Greek peripteral temple. This allowed priests to pass round the cella (along a '' pteron'') in cultic processions. If such a hall of columns surrounds a patio or garden, it is called a

peristyle In ancient Ancient Greek architecture, Greek and Ancient Roman architecture, Roman architecture, a peristyle (; ) is a continuous porch formed by a row of columns surrounding the perimeter of a building or a courtyard. ''Tetrastoön'' () is a rare ...

rather than a ''peristasis''. In ecclesial architecture, it is also used to designate the area between the

baluster A baluster () is an upright support, often a vertical moulded shaft, square, or lathe-turned form found in stairways, parapets, and other architectural features. In furniture construction it is known as a spindle. Common materials used in its ...

of a Catholic church and the high altar (what is usually called the sanctuary or

chancel In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar, including the Choir (architecture), choir and the sanctuary (sometimes called the presbytery), at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building. It may termi ...

References

Ancient Greek architecture Ancient Roman architecture Architectural elements {{Architecturalelement-stub