Word of the Day -- Narthex

Note: This is the first in a series of words dealing with particular parts of churches, synagogues, mosques, etc. that can be used in your games for help with better describing any place you or your group may come upon.  Thanks to Davis, that great Cleaver, for suggesting this.  -- tb

The narthex is an architectural element typical of Early Christian and byzantine basilicas or churches consisting of the entrance or lobby area, located at the end of the nave, at the far end from the church's main altar. Traditionally the narthex was a part of the church building, but was not considered part of the church proper. It is either an indoor area separated from the nave by a screen or rail, or an external structure such as a porch.  By extension, it can also denote a covered porch or entrance to a building.


The word comes from narthex (Medieval Latin from Classical Greek narthex νάρθηξ^[1] 1. giant fennel, 2. scourge) and was the place for penitents.^[2] In modern Greek narthekas (νάρθηκας) no longer has this meaning and is either the porch of a church, as English, or the brace of a sprained wrist or sling of a broken arm. In English the narthex is now the porch outside the church at the west end, formerly it was a part of the church itself.^[3]