The dome is the biggest component of a stupa and
it contains the relics, in a relic chamber, either at
the level of the basal rings at the bottom, or at the
square chamber at the top. Several shapes have
been used for the dome (Fig. 12), and some
examples are given in Table 2 and in Figs. 1 – 8.
The bell shape is the most common and next
comes the bubble shape. The paddy-heap shape,
having a gradient equal to the angle of repose, is
the most stable from a structural point of view
[Ranaweera 1998], and the ancient builders have
used this shape for the colossal stupas they built
[Silva 1982]. Domes of pot and lotus shapes are
rare and there are no existing examples of the nelli
fruit shape. The shape of the dome of some stupas
has changed from their original form during
repairs and enlargements which have taken place
at later times. For example, the Thuparama (Fig.
1) was originally constructed with a paddy-heap
shaped dome, which later took the shape of a bell.
The dome is the biggest component of a stupa and
it contains the relics, in a relic chamber, either at
the level of the basal rings at the bottom, or at the
square chamber at the top. Several shapes have
been used for the dome (Fig. 12), and some
examples are given in Table 2 and in Figs. 1 – 8.
The bell shape is the most common and next
comes the bubble shape. The paddy-heap shape,
having a gradient equal to the angle of repose, is
the most stable from a structural point of view
[Ranaweera 1998], and the ancient builders have
used this shape for the colossal stupas they built
[Silva 1982]. Domes of pot and lotus shapes are
rare and there are no existing examples of the nelli
fruit shape. The shape of the dome of some stupas
has changed from their original form during
repairs and enlargements which have taken place
at later times. For example, the Thuparama (Fig.
1) was originally constructed with a paddy-heap
shaped dome, which later took the shape of a bell.
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