In Greek houses and Byzantine churches, what term names the area reserved for women?

• A. Gymnaceum
• B. Narthex
• C. Insula
• D. Voussoirs

Answer: (A)

The area reserved for women in Greek houses and Byzantine churches is the gynaeceum, a term formed from Greek gyne- meaning woman and oikos meaning house. In a Greek house, the gynaeceum was the women’s wing, typically separated from the men’s quarters (the andron) and often located at the rear or on an upper floor. In Byzantine churches, the same idea carried over as a women’s section or gallery, set apart from the main nave where the male worshippers gathered. The other terms point to different features: the narthex is the church’s entrance vestibule, insula refers to a Roman apartment block, and voussoirs are the wedge-shaped stones used in arches. So the term naming the women’s area is gynaeceum, with the listed spelling representing a variant form.