A patera in Ancient Greece was a shallow bowl, often with relief carving or painted decoration. In astronomy it is an irregularly shaped, or scalloped crater, usually (but not exclusively) formed by volcanic activity. I didn't know either of these meanings of the word until I came to write the description of this photograph, the subject of which is paterae. To the architectural historian (and me) this word describes a circular, oval or square ornament carved with a central pattern of leaves or petals, and often used to decorate the surface of a wall, dome or other structure. This example is in Hereford Cathedral.
photo © T. Boughen Camera: Sony DSC-RX100
