Monk and Nun
Encyclopedia
Monk and Nun is a style of roof similar to Imbrex and tegula
Imbrex and tegula
The imbrex and tegula were overlapping roof tiles used in ancient Greek and Roman architecture as a waterproof and durable roof covering. They were made predominantly of fired clay, but also sometimes of marble, bronze or gilt...

, but instead of using a flat tile (tegula) and an arched tile (imbrex), two arched ibrex tiles are used.

The top linking tiles are the monk tiles and the lower layer are the nun tiles. Mortar
Mortar (masonry)
Mortar is a workable paste used to bind construction blocks together and fill the gaps between them. The blocks may be stone, brick, cinder blocks, etc. Mortar becomes hard when it sets, resulting in a rigid aggregate structure. Modern mortars are typically made from a mixture of sand, a binder...

 is often used under the monk tile to firmly attach it to the nun tile as well as providing an extra seal against entry of rain, but it is sometimes omitted. The origin of the name is unknown, but is also known as Priependach.
This style of roof was, along with imbrex and tegula, developed in ancient times, and is popular around the Mediterranean, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...

, and, during the Middle Ages it was also popular in Germanic Europe
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...

, but was later replaced by Biberschwanz (German: 'Beaver tail' ) roofing, although is still occasionally used, particularly for old and sacred buildings (which would have originally had Monk and Nun roofs).

In modern times this style is popular in the American southwest where it is called Pan and Cover or Mission Style. An easier-to-install variant called S-Tile is essentially the synthesis of a pan tile and a cover tile.
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