Decorated roof tiles started to become widespread around AD 688, when the small Korean kingdom of Silla, with help from China, conquered two other Korean kingdoms.

BRICKS and broken glass were catapulted over 200 metres through the air after an explosion destroyed four Scots homes. The huge blast decimated a row of house on Gorse Park, Ayr, around 7.10pm this… ...

This tile, though, wasn't intended merely to protect you against the "gentle rain". That was the job of the more prosaic, undecorated tiles covering the whole roof.