Hierarchy classification:

1. top of the aat hierarchies
2. Objects Facet
3. Components (hierarchy name)
4. components (objects parts)
5. [components by specific context]
6. architectural elements
7. [surface elements and surface element components]
8. surface elements (architectural)
9. [floors and floor components]
10. floors (surface elements)
11. platforms (floors)
12. podiums (platforms)

Additional parents:

1. top of the aat hierarchies
2. Objects Facet
3. Components
4. components
5. components by specific context
6. architectural elements
7. architectural elements by building type
8. religious building fixtures
9. Jewish religious building fixtures

Anotations

Scope note:

Refers to the apse or chancel of a basilica, usually in the context of ancient or Early Christian basilicas or meeting places, synagogues, or Eastern Orthodox churches. In modern times it most commonly refers to an elevated platform in a synagogue on which the Torah reading stand is placed; in the Ashkenazi (German) ritual, the Torah and Haftarah (a reading from the prophets) are read on the Sabbath and festivals. In the Sephardic (Spanish) rite, the entire service is conducted from the platform. At an earlier date, when the bimah was positioned in the center of the synagogue (as it still is in Sephardic and many Orthodox Ashkenazi synagogues), the attention of the congregation was divided between it and the Ark of the Law.