In the early times, a dome erected above the main roof served as a lookout tower, and warned of the approaching enemy at sea. Sometimes, it served as a fisherman’s high-place where one could wait in anticipation of a fellow fisher-folk returning from his catch. This early roof cupola with stairs, served an important purpose, and was known as Widow’s Walk or Belvedere. As architectural expertise got more refined, seeing a roof cupola on the roof of a church or a government building reflected a common tradition. These cupolas later continued to be built even though they lost their function. Today, they sit elegantly on rooftops, to impress the passerby and to give the owner a sense of pride.
