Opisthodomos

Plan of a temple with opisthodomos highlighted.

An opisthodomos (opithodomos/opthodomos from Greek ὀπισθόδομος) was the room present at the rear of some ancient Greek temples. It was located behind the naos. By balancing the pronaos at the front of the temple the addition of an opisthodomos could create a symmetrical design.

Opisthodomoi are present in the layout of:

• Temple of Zeus at Olympia
• Parthenon on the Acropolis in Athens
• Temple of Apollo Epikourios at Bassae
• Temple of Athena Lindia at Lindos
• Temple of Dionysus at Teos
• Temple of Athena Aphaea at Aegina
• Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion