The Pantheon is renowned for being the best-preserved ancient Roman monument globally and is also the most copied.
Known as the largest concrete dome ever built, its coffered concrete dome is a wonder of engineering in Rome.
Originally constructed as a temple in ancient Rome by Marcus Agrippa, the current structure dates back to around 126 AD, commissioned by Emperor Hadrian.
Over the centuries, it has served various purposes, including as a temple dedicated to all Roman gods.
What specifically draws us to this church, temple, or monument?
The Roman Pantheon is famous for various reasons, including its historical significance, architectural grandeur, and cultural significance.
It is one of the best-preserved examples of ancient architecture, and people should visit it.
Let this article explain in detail why the Pantheon is so famous and what the Pantheon is.
What Is The Pantheon?
The term “pantheon” can mean either all-worship or all-gods, depending on how you interpret it.
Contrary to what many people have said, the building was not intended to be a temple to every pagan deity.
Temple sharing was not something that the pagan gods were fond of.
Some exceptions exist, such as Castor and Pollux, who are gods united in their goals.
Also, a deified couple like Antonius Pius and his wife Faustina share a temple.
However, the Romans typically constructed temples honoring a particular god.
This is one of the reasons why the Pantheon is so famous: nobody knows what it was used for.
At best, what the Romans did with the Roman Pantheon requires clarification.
Amanda Claridge, a professor of archaeology, believes that the Pantheon existed to worship emperors who had not yet been deified.
Unsurprisingly, the Romans did not like worshipping emperors as gods until after their deaths.
In her Rome Archeological Guide, Claridge writes, “The Pantheon provided a setting for a temple in the conventional sense in which the living emperor would appear in the company of the gods (including his own deified predecessors).”
Construction And Reconstruction of Pantheon
The Pantheon has undergone multiple rebuilds, which have contributed to its popularity.
It was built between 27 and 25 BC, but Amanda Claridge claims it is unrecognizable today.
Under Caesar Augustus, the first Roman Emperor, Marcus Agrippa, a Roman Consul, constructed the first building.
The original building was mainly constructed of wood and burned down in 80 A.D., some 100 years later.
In 110 A.D., Domitian attempted it again, but lightning struck and burned the building.
These incidents would have appeared as unfavorable signs for Rome during an otherwise prosperous period.
Since Jupiter (Zeus) controlled lightning, it likely indicates that he would not be pleased with the building or the Romans if lightning struck it.
Hadrian would have completed the third structure, which the then-emperor Trajan probably started.
As a great and modest emperor, Hadrian refrained from dedicating the building to himself, something he did only once.
Instead, he dedicated it to Marcus Agrippa, who had initially constructed it.
Who constructed the Pantheon?
Many people speculate that Apollodorus of Damascus is the architect in question.
Indeed, Hadrian is known to have ordered the Pantheon’s renovations, which took place from 125 to 128 AD.
Pantheon Dome: Largest Concrete Dome In The World
The perfection of the dome is also a reason why millions of people visit Pantheon Rome every year. It will catch your attention as soon as you enter.
Rome’s architecture, including the Pantheon, was primarily concerned with projecting the Romans’ superiority.
Because the Pantheon dome is a perfect hemisphere, a sphere with a diameter of 44.4 meters could fit inside the building and touch the walls, the floor, and the ceiling.
The construction of a perfect building remains a mystery, with some suggesting an intricate scaffolding system and others suggesting Ostia sand was used.
The structure, made of stone, brick, and concrete, measures 145 feet in height and width.
It features five rows of 28 coffers, each smaller as it approaches the oculus, making it a sight to behold.
The Oculus
The Pantheon, built 2,000 years ago, is the largest unreinforced concrete dome ever constructed.
Its oculus is open, allowing rain and other elements to enter when doors are closed.
The floor slopes toward the center and has drains for water escape.
The interior features a bronze ring, and all 140 coffers likely had ornate bronze fixtures.
Read our article on What is there to see inside the Roman Pantheon and make sure that you don’t miss a single thing.
Kings of Italy and An Artist Buried Inside Pantheon
One of the reasons the Pantheon is so famous is that people are buried there.
Between 1861 and 1871, Sardinian King Vittorio Emmanuelle successfully united Italy’s smaller kingdoms to form one enormous country.
He came from a noble family known as the Casa Savoia, which dates back to 1003.
Even though their titles are not acknowledged, their family still has successors today.
The legendary Giuseppe Garibaldi successfully led Emmanuel’s army, uniting the peninsula under his rule.
A few sub-kingdoms merged amicably, while others were forced to.
The last destination was the battle of Castelfidardo, where Garibaldi fought and defeated the papal forces.
It seems so alien to us in modern times that the Catholic Church could command armies.
The Pantheon is where Victor Emmanuel II was interred after he died in 1878.
The inscription on his tomb reads Padre della Patria, which means “Father of the Fatherland.”
It is a mystery that he was permitted to be buried there.
After Emmanuel captured Rome, Pope Pius IX declined to meet with him and never recognized his rule.
Then he gave permission for him to be buried within the Catholic Pantheon.
The same tomb holds the remains of Umberto I, the second and last King of Italy and a Savoia.
The Famous Painter Raphael
Raphael’s tomb is located on the building’s left back side.
He painted several pieces of art, such as La Fornarina (Palazzo Barberini), which literally means “the baker’s daughter,” because he was deeply in love with Margherita Lute, a baker’s daughter.
Raphael, who lived from 1483 to 1520 and may have passed away on his birthday, is beneath a statue by Lorenzetto that depicts Mary holding a baby Jesus to her left.
“ILLE HIC EST RAFFAEL, TIMUIT QUO SOSPITE VINCI, RERUM MAGNA PARENS ET MORIENTE MORI” is written on his tomb.
Alexander Pope translated it to mean, “Here lies Raphael, by whom Nature feared to be outdone while he lived, and when he died, feared that she herself would die.”
It Has Been A Church For 1,400 Years!
The Pantheon’s continued existence is one of its most astounding features.
Pope Boniface IV turned the Pantheon into a church in the year 609. It is known as St. Mary and the Martyrs and is still a church today.
According to an unofficial history, the building was converted into a church after Christians claimed it to be haunted by pagan ghosts.
This is the main cause of the Pantheon’s renown and the reason it is still standing today.
The construction of many other ancient Roman structures was intended to withstand time, not to be recycled.
No one could pillage it once it was a church.
Most of the Original Decoration was Recycled
The Pantheon has been famous over the centuries, but not always in a good way.
The fact that it was turned into a church most definitely saved the Pantheon from being destroyed over the centuries.
However, that doesn’t mean it couldn’t be stripped of its most precious metals and marbles!
In the 17th century, Pope Urban VIII (Barberini) ordered significant material to be taken from the Pantheon, including bronze adorning the ceiling of the portico.
(The bronze was used for Bernini’s famous Baldacchino in St. Peter’s Basilica.)
This is where the phrase “What the barbarians did not do, the barberini did,” comes from.
It refers to the barbarians who sacked Rome in antiquity, taking most of its wealth.
The Porch Isn’t The Right Size
The porch of the Pantheon differs significantly from the inner drum.
It is the classic case of the square peg in a round hole.
There are many theories on why the building’s porch design does not correspond with the drum’s width.
The drum behind the porch is visible if you face the building directly, and, to put it mildly, it reduces the attractive appearance of the façade.
Some believe that this resulted from a lack of supplies during the building or even from a shipwreck that took some Egyptian columns with it.
The Facade And Doors
It is still a classic and grand entrance. White Pentelic marble is the base for the massive Egyptian stone beams that serve as the support columns.
The Romans would not have built the structure with a brick exterior; instead, the entire building’s exterior would have been covered in marble.
Several marks on the triangular facade suggest there was once a molding on the front.
Also, there is a huge eagle wearing a wreath of victory, representing Jupiter and Rome.
You will notice tiny holes where the frieze and facade would have been adjacent and observe that the porch’s center features four columns made of pink Aswan marble.
Although the building was originally constructed without these columns, they were added in the 17th century after some damage.
Though they seem old to us, the bronze doors are not original to the structure.
They were probably added during the 15th century, when Rome emerged from the darkness of the Middle Ages.
Why are they famous?
The facade and doors of the Pantheon in Rome are famous for several reasons:
1. Facade:
The facade of the Pantheon is notable for its inscription that honors the original builder, Marcus Agrippa, which reads “M·AGRIPPA·L·F·COS·TERTIVM·FECIT.”
It translates to “Marcus Agrippa, son of Lucius, made [this building] when consul for the third time.”
This inscription highlights the historical significance and origin of the Pantheon.
2. Doors:
The large bronze doors of the Pantheon are renowned for their size and historical importance.
These doors, measuring 4.45 meters wide by 7.53 meters high, are considered the oldest in Rome and were built by Emperor Hadrian between 118-128 AD.
Despite being almost 2,000 years old, these doors are still functional and rotate on pins set into the floor and architrave above.
They are one of only three buildings in ancient Rome to have preserved their original bronze doors.
3. Historical Significance:
The doors of the Pantheon have survived centuries and are a testament to ancient Roman craftsmanship and engineering.
Despite some restoration work over time, these doors remain a remarkable feature of the Pantheon, adding to its allure and historical value.
Overall, the facade’s inscription honoring Marcus Agrippa and the monumental bronze doors of the Pantheon contribute to its fame and significance as a symbol of ancient Roman architecture and history.
You will be fascinated by Rome with a day tour that can take you to see the Pantheon and other important sites in Rome.
Even though you could read up on the history of the Pantheon, nothing compares to actually seeing it with an enthusiastic local guide who shares your enthusiasm for the past!
So hurry up!
FAQs
What makes the Pantheon a famous landmark?
The historical and architectural significance, oculus, influence on modern architecture, and cultural ambiguity of the Pantheon have led to its famous status as a representation of Roman engineering.
What is the history of the Pantheon’s construction?
Rome’s Pantheon was first constructed by Agrippa in 27 BCE, but it was destroyed by fire and rebuilt by Emperor Hadrian in 117 AD. The largest unreinforced concrete dome in the world is still the famous engineering-magical 43-meter-diameter dome. Though its original purpose is unknown, the Pantheon has inspired generations with its symbol of Roman power and exquisite architecture.
Is it possible for visitors to go inside the Pantheon?
Yes, visitors can go inside the Pantheon in Rome. Entry, guided tours, and day trip tickets are available to visit the Pantheon from inside.
What architectural features make the Pantheon’s dome so impressive?
The Pantheon’s dome is a marvel, featuring a groundbreaking concrete design, an iconic oculus for natural light, and strategic use of concrete, tuff, and brick materials.
Is the Pantheon home to any famous works of art or sculpture?
St. Nicholas of Bari, Madonna of the Girdle, and The Assumption by Andrea Camasse are some famous pieces of art housed in Rome’s Pantheon. This ancient Roman temple’s cultural and artistic value is enhanced by sculptures such as St. Anne and the Blessed Virgin by Il Lorenzone and St. Anastasio by Bernardino Cametti.
What impact has the Pantheon had on historical architectural trends?
The Pantheon in Rome has had a significant influence on historical building design. Its creative dome design, thoughtful material selection, focus on natural light, Neoclassical portico, and long-lasting influence on modern and sustainable design have all inspired succeeding generations of architects.
What function does the Pantheon serve in Rome today?
The Pantheon in Rome, originally a temple for Roman gods, was converted into a Catholic church in AD 609 and is now known as the Basilica di Santa Maria ad Martyres. Its function in classical Rome is unknown; these range from imperial communication to divinity worship. Its most famous dome and oculus draw attention to its remarkable architecture, making it the oldest structure still in use.
Why is the Pantheon regarded as a Rome tourist attraction that one has to visit?
The wonder’s historical importance, architectural grandeur, and cultural significance are what made the Paris Pantheon famous. Taking a guided tour is a good way to learn about the building’s popularity.
Featured Photo by Tamal Mukhopadhyay on Unsplash