Lantern tower explained

In architecture, the lantern tower is a tall construction above the junction of the four arms of a cruciform (cross-shaped) church, with openings through which light from outside can shine down to the crossing (so it also called a crossing lantern).

Many lantern towers are usually octagonal, and give an extra dimension to the decorated interior of the dome.

An affiliated term is the Italian Italian: tiburio, which is the lantern atop a dome. Like a lantern tower, a Italian: tiburio is often polygonal and interspersed with windows both to lighten the load and allow for light to shine. The word Italian: tiburio is from the Medieval Latin Latin: tiburium (a variant of).^{[1] [2]}

See also

• Roof lantern

Notes and References

1. Book: Bogdanovic . Jelena . The Framing of Sacred Space . 2017 . Oxford University Press . 978-0-19-068137-1 . For example, Pope Symmachus (498–514) described canopies as tiburium and tegurium, meaning “small house” or “hut.” Other Latin synonyms were tugurinum, tiburinum, tiguriam, cyburium, cipurium, ciborium, fastigium, tegurmentum, tibutium, tegimen […].
2. Book: Loi . Maria Cristina . Patetta . Luciano . Tradizioni e regionalismi nel primo Rinascimento italiano . 2005 . Unicopli . 978-88-400-1051-9 . 44 . it . alla voce tiburio, si legge “tigurium, tiburium (latino medievale). Copertura esterna di una cupola […].