The Collaborative International Dictionary
Peribolos \Pe*rib"o*los\, n. [Nl., fr. Gr. ?, fr. ?, adj., going round, fr. ? to throw round; cf. L. peribolus.] In ancient architecture, an inclosed court, esp., one surrounding a temple.
Wiktionary
n. (context architecture historical English) An enclosed court, especially one surrounding a temple.
Wikipedia
In ancient Greek and Roman architecture, a peribolos was a court enclosed by a wall, especially one surrounding a sacred area such as a temple, shrine, or altar. Peribolos walls (which may also be referred to as temenos walls) were sometimes composed of stone posts and slabs supported by porous sills.
Famous examples included:
- The peribolos wall and gate in the Sanctuary of Zeus (Altis), north of the Temple of Zeus at Olympia, Greece;
- The peribolos enclosing the Altar of the Twelve Gods near the north end of the Athens Agora; and
- The Terrace created by retaining and peribolos walls around the Sanctuary of Athena Pronaia (Marmaria), southeast of the Sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi, Greece.
Usage examples of "peribolos".
Limnae as a locality where the Lenaea were held, and says that the Lenaeum was a large peribolus within the city, in which was the sanctuary of Dionysus Lenaeus, and that the Athenians held contests in this peribolos before they built the theatre.