CELLAR (Cellarium), in ancient writers, denotes the same with cella, namely, a conservatory of provisions or liquors. Cellar differs from vault, as the latter is supposed to be deeper, while the former is frequently but little below the surface of the ground. Cellarium also differed from penus, inasmuch as the former was only a storehouse for a short time, while the latter was one for a long time. Hence the Bactroperatæ, a sort of ancient Cynics, are said by St Jerome to carry their cellar about with them.
Cellarium also denoted an allowance of bread, wine, oil, or other provision, furnished out of the cella, for the use of the governor of the province and his officers and dependents. In this sense the word amounts to nearly the same with amona.