If buildings were to grow naturally, as say trees, then tents would be like the mushrooms of the forest, appearing overnight, seen briefly, and then vanishing just as quickly, with no permanent record. Originally a mainstay shelter of nomadic man, it started to be replaced by homes, temples, palaces or anything of a sturdier material. As the buildings of wood, stone and marble started increasing in popularity and size, for no apparent reason, so did the tent.

Perhaps the biggest and grandest pergola belonged to Alexander the Great. He made a marriage tent that hung from 50 thirty-foot columns of silver and gold, making it large enough to house 100 couches and host 9,000 friends. The roof was a dome and had amazing portrayals of the sun, moon, stars and all of the deities of heaven. It was named the cosmic tent and went on to inspire Nero to build one just like it. Luckily, it does not need to be that spectacular or big to get the job of sheltering done.

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