Hypogeum
Hypogeum or Hypogaeum (pl. hypogea) literally means "underground", from Greek hypo (under) and gaia (earth). It usually refers to an underground, pre-Christian temple or a tomb (Christian underground temples and tombs are called catacombs). In this respect it differs from dugout, souterrain, yaodong and fogou, which were not used for ritual purposes. Hypogea will often contain niches for cremated human remains or loculi for buried remains. It can also simply refer to any antique building or part of building built below ground.
See also
Reference
- Curl, James Stevens [2006]. A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture (Paperback), Second (in English), Oxford University Press, 880. ISBN 0198606788.
Categories
Subterranea