Xystus (architectural term)

The ruined xyst at Villa Romana del Casale, Sicily
For other uses, see Xystus (disambiguation).

Xystus (Ancient Greek: ξυστός) was the Greek architectural term for the covered portico of the gymnasium, in which the exercises took place during the winter or in rainy weather. The Romans applied the term to the garden walk in front of the porticoes, which was divided into flower beds with borders of box, and to a promenade between rows of large trees.[1]

The term xystus derives from the Greek word xustos, meaning "smooth", due to the polished floor of the xystus. "Xystus" was used, by extension, to refer to the whole building containing the gymnasium and portico, as in the xysti of Jerusalem and Elis. Xyst is an alternative spelling for xystus,[2] and xystarch as the term for a superintendent of a xystus.[3] In Latin, xystum is the accusative case of the nominative xystus; in modern architecture, xystum has a different meaning from xystus.[4]

Xystarches (ξυστάρχης) was an officer who superintended the exercise of the xystus[5] and xysticus (ξυστικός) was called an athlete who practised in xystus.[6]

  1. ^ Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Xystus" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 28 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 889.
  2. ^ "1913 Webster's Dictionary definition for Xyst, Xystus". ARTFL Project. Retrieved 2008-09-03.
  3. ^ "1913 Webster's Dictionary definition for Xystarch". ARTFL Project. Retrieved 2008-09-03.
  4. ^ Curl 2006.
  5. ^ Harry Thurston Peck, Harpers Dictionary of Classical Antiquities (1898), Xystarcha
  6. ^ Harry Thurston Peck, Harpers Dictionary of Classical Antiquities (1898), Xysticus