Sacellum

This is a sacred enclosure dedicated to a god, which usually includes an ara or a sacred edicule inside. It's oriented according to the cardinal points and traced like a terrestrial templum. The sacella are very common outside of the cities, where they're used for official rites with no pretension of solemnity, and by farmer cults. The sacella are also present in the cities. There is always one in front of the Curia, the building where the Senate assembles, and often one next to the most solemn temples as well, in order to permit the people a closer communication with the gods, since temple access is prohibited to normal visitors. In some cases, the sacella are the remnants of ancient cults dedicated to deities of which very few remember the names and characteristics.