The Pantheon in Rome

The Pantheon was built in Rome in 27 BC. It was the main place of worship dedicated to the pagan gods of the ancient Rome. Between 120 and 124 A.D. it was rebuilt by Emperor Hadrian because the building was damaged by a large fire in 110 A.D. . In 608 Pope Boniface IV placed inside the Pantheon the bones of the martyrs taken from the catacombs turning the temple into a Christian basilica called Santa Maria the Martyrs.

For over two thousand years was a source of inspiration for artists all over the world who came to Rome to admire its impressive structure and to confirm its historical. It houses the remains of Raphael, Annibale Carracci and King Victor Emmanuel II of Savoy.

The Pantheon is a circular plan topped by a hemispherical dome, which houses an oculus that allows the natural lighting of the entire structure. The dome is the largest in the world built in concrete. The entrance to the basilica is a porch with 16 columns with capitals order rally. The inscription on the pediment of the Pantheon reads: “Marcus Agrippa, Lucii filius, consul tertium stool” “It was built by Marcus Agrippa, son of Lucius, consul for the third time”.

Marcus Vespasian Agrippa, son of Augustus built the temple and dedicated it primarily to Neptune and was reserved for the private worship of Vespasian Agrippa family. Of some remains found under the structure we understand that initially the temple has a rectangular plan built with blocks of travertine and marble slabs. The roof was covered with gilded bronze tiles that were removed in 663 by order of Constans II and replaced with a lead cover.

In 1625 during the pontificate of Pope Urban VIII Barberini, the Pantheon was also robbed of the porch roof bronze and bronze statues of the pediment. It was destiny to Bernini who realized the beautiful and majestic papal altar of the Saint Peter’s Basilica.

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