PR..TORIUM (prt-to'rl-um), (Gr. Ilpairdi piov, prahee-to'ree-on, belonging to a Prxtor).
This word denotes the general's tent in the field, and also the house or palace of the gov ernor of a province, whether a pretor or not. In the Gospels it is applied to three places : I. At Jerusalem (Mark xv:16). The same Greek word is rendered "common hall" and, mar gin, "governor's house" (Matt. xxvii :27) ;"hall of judgment" and "judgment-hall" (John xviii:28, 33; xix :9). It occupied a vast rectangular space and contained barracks for the soldiers by whom Jerusalem was kept in subjection. This prxtori urn communicated with the temple, which was sit uated on the eastern hill, by a causeway crossing the Tyropceon valley. It was in this prxtorium that Jesus was tried before Pilate. Some, how ever, would identify the pnctorium with the fortress Antonia, at the northwest corner of the temple-area (see Lange on Matt. xxvii :27).
2. At Caesarea (Acts xxiii :35) ; translated "Herod's judgment-hall." This was the gorgeous palace in which Herod the Great resided during his latter days. It probably stood on the com
manding eminence near the middle of the city. There Paul was kept a prisoner for two years.
3. At Rome (Phil. i :13) ; translated "palace," and in the margin "Cxsar's court." This has been interpreted—(I) As in the A. V., "the pal ace"—i. c. the palace of the Cesars, on the Mount Palatine, which was garrisoned by a bodyguard of soldiers called Praetorians. (2) As the gen eral camp of the Praetorian guard, situated just without the city walls, before reaching the fourth milestone. It was established by the emperor Tiberius.
Ramsey (St. Paul the Traveler, p. 357) says: "The pretorium is the whole body of persons con nected with sitting in judgment, the supreme im perial court, doubtless in this case the prefect or both prefects of the Pretorian Guard, represent ing the emperor in his capacity as the fountain of justice, together with the assessors and high offi cers of the court."