CRYPT, according to Vitruvius, the under part of a build ing, answering nearly to our cellar.
The term is more particularly applied to a vaulted apart ment beneath a church, either entirely, or partly under ground. Crypts owe their origin to the circumstance of the early Christians being compelled, for the sake of secresy and concealment, to perform their sacred services in eaves and subterraneous pla.oes, some of which are still pointed out at Rome. Crypts are not !infrequent, especially under large churches, they seldom, however, extend the whole length of the church, being usually confined to the choir or chancel, and sometimes nut extending so far as this : they are usually ]ow and massive, of an earlier and plainer style than the superstructure. Many crypts are claimed as belonging to the Saxon style, as those of Lastinghain Church, Yorkshire ;• S. Peter's, Oxford ; lepton Church, Derbyshire; and portions of those of many of our cathedrals.
Crypts were formerly used for service, and accordingly are provided with altars and other furniture requisite f,fr the pur pose. The most extensive building of this kind is that under Canterbury Cathedral, which is thus described by Mr. Britton.
" Like those at Winchester, the crypts of Canterbury Cathe dral appear to have been built at different times. Their eastern termination is semicircular ; which form has been also observed in the small lateral chapels. The interior length of the Canterbury crypts is '2S6 feet 6 incites. The age of the oldest pal t has long I cell the subject of controversy; but from its similarity to the crypt at t fxford, it may be regarded as eontemportun•ous with that ; it was most probably the work of Lafranc, :Jena A.D. OSO. The larger, or western crypt, is divided into a nave and tour aisles, by two rows of massive piers, and by a double range of small columns; whilst the piers and walls of the aisles have semi-columns to support the vaulting. Branching laterally from each aisle is a vault or chapel ; that on the south side, the vaulting of which is adorned with many ribs, bears evident marks of innovation.
and is supposed to have been converted into a ehantry chapel by Edward the Black Prince, whose arms are seen among its ornaments. Towards the eastern end of this crypt was a chapel, inclo:ed with screen-wIwk, and dedicated to the I Ioly Virgin. The crypt under the Trinity Chapel, or east end of the cathedral. is singultt• in form and charaeter. Its plan assumes the figure of tut horse shoe ; and is divided into a nave and aisles by a series of eight piers, each fbrined of two columns, engaged about. one-qua•ter of their diameter, sup porting fimr semicircular and five pointed arches, their respective titrins being influenced by the width of the inter cohunnizttions. In its central division, or nave, are two small insulated shafts, with large capitals and bases to support the ribbed groiniag, which is distinguished that of the western crypt by cross-springers and bold mouldings. At the eastern extremity is a small vaulted chamber, forming the ter mination of these interesting apartments." Amongst the smaller examples, may be noticed that of llythe, Kent, and those of Lepton, and St. Peter's in the East, Oxtb•d, before-mentioned.
Cav••o-Powricus, a subterraneous passage, as the original word implies. If we may judge (says Winckelman) from the remains of antique edifices, particularly- those of the Villa Adriani, at Tivoli, we might be led to believe that the an cients preferred darkness to light : for, in fact, we Mid scarcely any chamber or vault among these ruined edifices, which has any appearance of windows. It seems probable, that in sonic, tile light was only admitted through an opening in the middle of the vault, but as the vaults are generally fallen, this point cannot be ascertained. The inhabitants of Italy are naturally attached to the shade and coolness of half-li..hted apartments. The ling galleries of the Villa Adrituii, which are undoubtedly cryptotortieos, receive a feeble light at each end, from em braoing near tip? ceiling.