Cupolas on the towers of Montefiascone Cathedral, Italy.

Ribbed cupola crowns the minaret of the Mosque of Uqba, in Kairouan, Tunisia.

Inside of Armenian Orthodox church cupola in Lvov, Ukraine.

In architecture, a cupola ( /ˈkjuːpələ/) is a small, most-often dome-like, structure on top of a building.^[1] Often used to provide a lookout or to admit light and air, it usually crowns a larger roof or dome.^[2][3]

The word derives, via Italian, from the lower Latin cupula (classical Latin cupella from the Greek κύπελλον kupellon) small cup (Latin cupa) indicating a vault resembling an upside down cup.^[4]

Cupolas often appear as small buildings in their own right. They often serve as a lantern, belfry, or belvedere above a main roof. In other cases they may crown a tower, spire, or turret.^[3] The chhatri, seen in Indian architecture, fits the definition of a cupola when it is used atop a larger structure.

The cupola is a development during the Renaissance of the oculus, an ancient device found in Roman architecture, but being weatherproof was superior for the wetter climates of northern Europe.

See also[link]

• Daylighting
• Roof lantern
• Chhatri

References[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Cupolas

The King of Rome
The preserved bird in Derby Museum
Species	Columba livia f. domestica
Breed	Racing pigeon
Sex	Cock
Born	Derby, England
Resting place	Derby Museum and Art Gallery
Known for	Long-distance race winner Subject of song
Owner	Charlie Hudson
Appearance	Blue Cock
Named after	Rome-England bird race

The King of Rome was a successful racing pigeon, winning a 1,001-mile (1,611 km) race from Rome, Italy to England, in 1913. It was the subject of a song and book, both by Dave Sudbury, the former most famously recorded by June Tabor.^[1]

The bird[link]

The King of Rome was a racing pigeon that won a 1,001-mile (1,611 km) race from Rome, Italy to England, in 1913. The bird, a blue cock,^[2] ring number NU1907DY168,^[3] was owned^[1] and bred^[2] by Charlie Hudson (born early 1870s, died 13 March 1958 aged 84^[3]), of 56 Brook Street, Derby (now demolished, 52°55′35″N 1°29′08″W / 52.9265°N 1.4855°W / 52.9265; -1.4855), who was reported as having started pigeon racing in 1904.^[1] At the time of the race, he was president and treasurer of Derby Town Flying Club.^[1] He also wrote on pigeon-racing matters for the Derby Evening Telegraph.^[4] On the bird's death he presented its body to Derby Museum and Art Gallery where its taxidermied skin is preserved with accession number DBYMU.1946/48. As of 2011, it is on display,^[5] and has previously been exhibited on loan elsewhere, including Walsall Museum and Wollaton Hall in Nottingham.^[4]

The song[link]

Sudbury with his subject, in 2012

The King of Rome and its owner were the subject of a song and book by Dave Sudbury (born Derby, 1943^[6]). It tells how:

On the day of the big race a storm blew in
A thousand birds were swept away and never seen again^[5]

indicating the dangers related to the bird's races.

The song was most notably recorded by June Tabor.^[1] After hearing Sudbury perform the song at the Northern Arts Council's 'Songsearch' contest^[6] in the late 1980s, where she was a judge^[6] (he came fourth^[7]), Tabor recorded it for her 1988 album Aqaba. Brian McNeill, another finalist at the event, has said:

"The King of Rome" was head and shoulders above every other song sung on the night, and should have won.^[7]

McNeill has subsequently performed the song, and a live recording is available on his 2000 album with Iain MacKintosh, Live and Kicking.^[7]

American folksinger Vance Gilbert recorded it for his 1994 album Edgewise and Canadian folk musician Garnet Rogers recorded it for his album Summer Lightning (2004). The band Half Man Half Biscuit also recorded a version of the song for a BBC radio session, though it remains unreleased.^[8] At the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards in 2012, The Unthanks performed the song, with accompanyment from the Brighouse and Rastrick Brass Band.

The book[link]

Sudbury's lyrics have been reproduced as a 32-page book, with illustrations by Hans Saefkow.^[9]

References[link]

External links[link]

• "The King of Rome". Derby Museum site. Derby City Council. http://www.derby.gov.uk/LeisureCulture/MuseumsGalleries/NaturalHistorytreasureTheKing+of+Rome.htm. Retrieved 2010-07-08.  – includes lyrics
• "The King of Rome". http://www.thekingofrome.com/. Retrieved 2010-07-08.  – Dave Sudbury's web page about the song
• "Interview: Dave Sudbury – The King of Rome". Folk Radio UK. http://www.folkradio.co.uk/2012/04/interview-dave-sudbury-the-king-of-rome/. Retrieved 2012-04-27.  – Dave Sudbury interviewed about the song and his career

Media[link]

• "The King of Rome, A true inspiring story about a famous Derby Pigeon. Dave Sudburys original version". YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y97SXJR8cVo. Retrieved 2010-07-08.  – Original Sudbury version of song
• "June Tabor - King of Rome". YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vmbFLQxz6k. Retrieved 2012-04-27.  – June Tabor version of song
• "Half Man Half Biscuit - King of Rome". YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjzddQQLIv4. Retrieved 2010-07-08.  – Half Man Half Biscuit version of song
• "The Unthanks - King of Rome". YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=am4wgh859Og. Retrieved 2012-02-09.  – The Unthanks version of song broadcast live at 2012 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards