Ovolo, a moulding, the profile of which resembles the outline of an egg, used in Classic architecture.

Pendentive, a feature in Byzantine and other domed buildings, employed to enable a circular dome to stand over a square space.

Peristylar, or Peripteral, with columns all round.

Peristylium, or Peristyle, in a Roman house, the inner courtyard; also any space or enclosure with columns all round it.

Piscina, a small basin usually executed in stone and placed within a sculptured niche, fixed at the side of an altar in a church, with a channel to convey away the water poured into it.

Polychromy, the use of decorative colours.

Precincts, the space round a church or religious house, usually enclosed with a wall.

Presbytery, the eastern part of a church, the chancel.

Profile (of a moulding), the outline which it would present if cut across at right angles to its length.

Pronaos, the front portion or vestibule to a temple.