DOME

(Lat. dom us.) In Architecture, the spherical or other figured concave ceiling over a circular or polygonal building. A surbased or diminished dome is one that is segmental on its section; a surmounted dome is one that is higher than the radius of its base. The forms of domes are various, both in plan and section. In the former, they are circular and polygonal; in the latter, we find them semicircular, semi-ejliptical, segmental, pointed, sometimes in curves of contrary flexure, bell shaped, . The oldest cupola on record is that of the Pantheon at Rome, which was erected under August us, and is still perfect. We here subjoin a list of the domes whose dimensions entitle them to notice. Domes. Feet diam. Feet high. Pantheon at Rome 142 143 Duomo at Florence, Sta. Maria del Fi139.^10 St. Peter's at Rome 139 330 St. Sophia at Constantinople 115 201 Baths of Car a call a (Ancient) 112 116 St. Paul-s, London 112 215 Dome of the Mosque of Achmet Chapel of the Medici 92 120 91 199 Baptistery at Florence 86 110 Church of the Invalids at Paris - 80 173 Minerva Medica at Rome 78 97 Madonna dell a Salute, Venice 7« 133 St. Genevieve at Paris (Pantheon) 67 190 Duomo at Sienna 57 148 Duomo at Milan.... 57 254 St. Vital is at Ravenna... 65 91 Val de Grace at Paris 55 133 St. Mark, Venice 44 DOMESDAY BOOK (Liber Judiciarius, or Censual is Anglian), according to Hume, the most valuable piece of antiquity po e ed by any nation, was framed by order of William the Conqueror (1031-6), and contains a general survey of most of the lands in England, their extent in each district, their proprietors, tenures, value; the quantity of meadow, pasture, wood, and arable land which they contained; and, in some counties, the number of t(»iants, cottagers, and slaves of all denominations who lived upon them. It consists of two volumes; one in fol., the other in 4to.: the former comprehending 31 counties, the latter those only of E ex, Norfolk, and Suffolk. The counties of North umber land, Cumber land, West more land, and Durham, were not comprehended in this survey, probably on account of their then wild uncultivated state. Nor does Lancashire appear under its proper name; but Fume and the north  [s. 371]