Pantheon, Rome

The Pantheon in Rome, Italy, is one of the most famous and well-preserved ancient buildings in the world. It began as a Roman temple built around AD 126 by the emperor Hadrian. Today, it is a Catholic church called the Basilica of St. Mary and the Martyrs. The Pantheon is special because of its huge round shape and its amazing dome made of concrete. This dome, with a hole in the center called the oculus, is still the largest unreinforced concrete dome in the world.

The building has a large front porch with tall columns and a triangle shape above the entrance called a pediment. Inside, the round room is very tall, and the distance from the floor to the top of the dome is the same as the width of the room. Because the Pantheon has been used as a church since the 7th century, it has stayed in good condition for nearly two thousand years.

Many people visit the Pantheon each year to see its beautiful architecture. The square in front of it is called Piazza della Rotonda. The Pantheon's design has influenced many buildings built long after it, making it very important in the history of architecture.

Etymology

The name "Pantheon" comes from the Ancient Greek word "Pantheion" meaning "of, relating to, or common to all the gods." It was called this because it was a temple for all the gods. However, some historians think that "Pantheon" might just have been a nickname and not the building's official name.

Over time, especially after the French Revolution, the word pantheon has come to mean a place where important people are honored or buried, like the Panthéon of Paris.

History

Ancient

After the Battle of Actium in 31 BC, Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa began building the Pantheon as part of his property in the Campus Martius. Originally, it was one of three buildings, including the Baths of Agrippa and the Basilica of Neptune. For a long time, people thought Agrippa built the current Pantheon, but excavations show that his version was destroyed. The existing Pantheon was likely begun under Emperor Trajan around 114 AD.

The original Pantheon by Agrippa was destroyed by fire in 80 AD and rebuilt by Domitian. It burned again in 110 AD. The current design, finished by Emperor Hadrian, kept Agrippa’s inscription but changed the building’s purpose. The Pantheon’s famous dome and design have made it influential in architecture for centuries.

Medieval

In 609 AD, the Byzantine emperor Phocas gave the Pantheon to Pope Boniface IV, who turned it into a Christian church dedicated to St. Mary and the Martyrs. This saved the building from destruction during the Early Middle Ages. However, some marble and decorations were removed over the years. The interior, with its marble and design, mostly survived.

Renaissance

During the Renaissance, famous artists and architects like Raphael and Filippo Brunelleschi admired the Pantheon. It became a place for important burials, including artists and Italian kings. In the 17th century, some of the bronze from the Pantheon was melted down, but the building remained an important church and landmark.

Modern

Today, the Pantheon in Rome serves as a Catholic church and a place of burial for notable Italians, including kings of the Kingdom of Italy. It remains a major tourist attraction and an important historical site. Visitors are asked to show respect while inside the church.

Structure

The Pantheon in Rome is one of the most famous and well-preserved ancient buildings. Originally a temple built in the 2nd century, it now serves as a church. Its design is very impressive, especially its large round dome.

The front of the Pantheon, called the portico, has tall columns made of granite from Egypt. These columns were moved a very long way to Rome. The main part of the building, called the rotunda, has a giant dome made of Roman concrete. The dome is very strong because it uses different materials at different heights. The round room inside has a hole at the top, called the oculus, which lets in light and air.

Catholic additions

The present high altar and the apses were commissioned by Pope Clement XI and designed by Alessandro Specchi. A 7th-century Byzantine icon of the Virgin and Child is enshrined above the high altar. The choir was added in 1840, designed by Luigi Poletti.

Many artworks and tombs are found inside the Pantheon. The second niche has a tomb of King Victor Emmanuel II. The third niche holds the remains of the great artist Raphael. The chapel also contains statues, paintings, and memorials of important religious and royal figures.

Cardinal deaconry

The Pantheon was made a special church place for important leaders of the church in 1725. Later, in 1929, this special status changed. Many leaders, known as cardinals, were linked to this church over the years.

Here are some of the cardinals linked to the Pantheon:

• Nicola del Giudice 1725–1743
• Alessandro Albani 1743–1747
• Carlo Maria Sacripante 1747–1751
• Mario Bolognetti 1751–1756
• Prospero Colonna di Sciarra 1756–1763
• Domenico Orsini d'Aragona 1763–1777
• Antonio Casali 1777–1787
• Ignazio Boncompagni-Ludovisi 1787–1789
• Antonio Doria Pamphili 1789–1800
• Romoaldo Braschi-Onesti 1800–1817
• Ercole Consalvi 1817–1824
• Stanislao Sanseverino 1825–1826
• Agostino Rivarola 1826–1842
• Adriano Fieschi 1843–1853
• Vincenzo Santucci 1854–1861
• Roberto Roberti 1863–1867
• Gaspare Grassellini 1867–1875
• Enea Sbarretti 1877–1884
• Carmine Gori-Merosi 1884–1886
• Luigi Pallotti 1887–1890
• vacant (1890–1901)
• Felice Cavagnis 1901–1906
• vacant (1906–1929)

Influence on architecture

The Pantheon is famous for its huge dome, the largest ever built without metal support. It has inspired many important buildings over the centuries. Architects and builders have looked to the Pantheon as a model since the Renaissance. One early example is the dome of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence, finished in 1436.

Many famous buildings around the world show the Pantheon's style. These include churches, government buildings, and university halls. For example, the University of Virginia has a rotunda designed by Thomas Jefferson to help students study architecture. Other buildings inspired by the Pantheon include St. Hedwig's Cathedral in Berlin and the Rotunda of Mosta in Malta.