temenos

Greek religion

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 14, 2026

Quick Summary

In ancient Greek religion, a temenos was a sacred precinct or temple enclosure. This area was set apart, often by cutting off a piece of land, to be a domain for religious purposes. Sacrifices to the Olympian deities were typically offered at the altar within the temenos, which was usually situated east of the temple itself. These sacred spaces were central to Greek religious practices, serving as the location for rituals and offerings that demonstrated piety. Examples of significant ancient Greek religious sites include the Acropolis of Athens and the Archaeological Site of Delphi.123

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

7 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Greek religion
Shrines and temples
Fundamental was the precinct (temenos) allotted to the deity, containing the altar, temple (if any), and other sacral or natural features, such as the sacred olive in the temenos of Pandrosos on the Athenian Acropolis. Naoi (temples—literally “dwellings”—that housed the god’s image) were already known in Homeric times and,…
Read More
Fundamental was the precinct (temenos) allotted to the deity, containing the altar, temple (if any), and other sacral or natural features, such as the sacred olive in the temenos of Pandrosos on the Athenian Acropolis. Naoi (temples—literally “dwellings”—that housed the god’s image) were already known in Homeric times and,…
Read More