What is Vault (architecture)?
[[File:حرم، شبستان امام خمینی 02.jpg|thumb|250x250px]] A '''vault''' (French. ''voute,'' Italian. ''volta,'' German. ''Gewölbe,'' Polish. ''sklepienie'', Spanish. ''bóveda'') is an [[architecture|architectural]] term for an [[arch]]ed form used to provide a space with a [[ceiling]] or [[roof]]. == Vault in ancient time == Long ago, in places like Mesopotamia and Egypt, they used simple vaults made of stones to build things like tombs and ziggurats. Then, the Romans got really good at making vaults. They built big things like the Colosseum using them, showing how clever they were at engineering. The Byzantine Empire, in places like Constantinople, also used vaults with fancy designs, like the Hagia Sophia with its pretty mosaics. In India, Islamic builders made vaults with big domes and detailed patterns, influenced by Persian and Byzantine styles, as seen in the Taj Mahal. Later in Europe, during the Gothic time, people started using pointed arches and ribbed vaults in cathedrals, like Notre-Dame in Paris. In Italy, during the Renaissance, Filippo Brunelleschi made a famous dome for Florence Cathedral with a vaulted ceiling. Then, in the Baroque and Rococo times, fancy vaulted ceilings became popular again in Europe's palaces and churches. == Types of Vaults == The vaults can be classified on the basis of its structureː<ref>{{Cite web|last=Pramod|first=Gopika|date=2023-12-24|title=Types of Vaults in Architecture: Structure and Architecture Style|url=https://thearchitectsdiary.com/types-of-vaults-in-architecture-structure-and-architecture-style/|access-date=2024-05-08|website=The Architects Diary|language=en-US}}</ref> * '''Barrel Vaultsː''' Barrel vaults are a type of architectural feature known for their long, curved shape that looks like a barrel or a tunnel. They stretch across a large area, offering both support and a distinctive look. Barrel vaults are good at spreading out weight and keeping structures stable over a big space. * '''Dome Vaultsː''' Dome vaults are unique architectural features using r