kupol

Kupol is the term used in several Slavic languages to denote a dome or cupola, an architectural element that forms a rounded roof or ceiling over a space. It can be constructed from masonry, metal, or other materials and is typically supported by a base known as a drum.

Domes come in various shapes, including hemispherical, polygonal, onion-shaped (especially in Russian church architecture), and tented forms. They may sit on pendentives, squinches, or directly on a drum, and are often reinforced by arches or ribs. Modern domes may be built as lightweight shells or geodesic structures.

Historically, kupols are prominent in Orthodox and Byzantine-influenced architecture, where they crown churches and cathedrals, sometimes forming a distinctive skyline with multiple domes. In Russia and other parts of Eastern Europe, onion domes are a distinctive subtype.

In contemporary architecture, domes are used for stadiums, planetariums, museums, and religious buildings, valued for their wide interior space and aesthetic qualities, as well as for their structural efficiency.