…the cupola of an octagon barn in west-central Georgia.
The first octagon structure I remember exploring was a house in Ord, Nebraska (a bit of googling suggests it’s for sale, in fact, if you’re interested…). I was working up the road near Burwell, but that’s another story from long before there were digital cameras.
Today’s vocabulary—apotropaic
supposedly having the power to avert evil influences or bad luck
In a sentence: We need a drawerful of effective, proven, apotropaic goodies these days, or perhaps just a cupola….
25 June 2008 at 4:10 pm
manette says:
“The term cupola is also often used for a projection above the roof of a barn, which is primarily there for ventilation purposes” Wikipedia
Dave just painted the cupola above our garage yesterday and we were trying to remember the term for that ornamental/ventilative sturcture. I threw in the towel and called it a cornucopia, knowing I was wrong and knowing what a cornucopia actually is. Reading that the cornucopia was also a symbol for a woman’s fertility, I think I would rather have the cupola over my house!
25 June 2008 at 4:52 pm
Sammy says:
Maybe residential-cupolas have different vibes than barn-cupolas….
25 June 2008 at 8:05 pm
kayak woman says:
There are some old, old houses up in Siberia with turrets and cupolas. I was instructed on the difference at an early age during rides around town with the parental units.
25 June 2008 at 8:16 pm
kayak woman says:
Omigosh! When I wrote my comment, I hadn’t thoroughly read Manette’s. I love the idea of calling those things “cornucopias”!