Spotlight: Rome - The Pantheon

Spotlight: The Pantheon is a former Roman temple whose name means "[temple] of every god." Originally it was the site of a temple built by Marcus Agrippa (27 BC), which was destroyed. The current temple was built by Emperor Hadrian and dedicated circa 126 AD. The building is circular with a portico of large, granite Corinthian columns. The Rotunda is covered by a large concrete dome with an oculus in the middle. The diameter of the dome and its height at its apex are both 43.3 meters. Although the oculus is subject to outside weather, it also serves as the main source of light and ventilation for the building. When it rains, the water drains down the slightly convex floor to the still functioning Roman drainpipes beneath.

the oculus

     Inside, the niches originally housed statues of various Roman deities. In 608 AD, the Pantheon was given as a gift to Pope Boniface IV by Byzantine Emperor Phocas. He converted it into a church and dedicated it to Saint Mary and the Martyrs, replacing the original statues with new ones dedicated to Mary and various saints. This act saved the building from the destruction that befell most other Roman buildings from this time period at the hands of zealots who sought to rid the city of all pagan influences during the Middle Ages. Thus the Pantheon remains the best preserved monument of ancient Rome. During the Renaissance, the Pantheon was adorned with many paintings. It also became the burial place of several famous Italians including painters Raphael and Annibale Carracci, composer Arcangelo Corelli, and architect Baldassare Peruzzi. The Pantheon is still in use as a Catholic Church, and weddings are occasionally held there.

Tomb of Raphael

Location: The Pantheon is located in downtown Rome at Piazza della Rotonda.

Cost: free; guided tours are variable

Time: The Pantheon is open from 8:30 am to 7:30 pm daily, with reduced hours on Sunday and holidays. Allow yourself about 30-45 minutes to see it completely.

Description: The Pantheon is one of the oldest structures still in use in Rome. The first thing you notice as you approach are the 16 huge 39-foot tall granite columns that were imported from Egypt. These massive 60-ton columns were dragged more than 100 km from a quarry to the Nile on wooden sledges before being floated down to the Mediterranean Sea on barges. From there they were sailed to the port of Ostia, floated up the Tiber, and then dragged to the temple site. Although they have suffered some weathering over the centuries, they still remain in remarkable condition.

     The Rotunda dome weighs 4,535 metric tons. With a diameter of 43.3 meters, it is the largest unsupported dome in the world. The Romans were master engineers, and they used various methods to create this engineering masterpiece. In addition to eliminating some weight with the oculus, they also used different mixtures of concrete at different levels within the dome. Also, at its base, the dome is about 21 feet thick, while at its apex it is only 4 feet thick. Eight barrel vaults containing many intersecting arches are used to carry much of the weight. The most interesting technique, though, was the use of hidden chambers built within the rotunda as part of its sophisticated structural system.
     Circles and squares form the main theme within the Rotunda. The floor uses a checkerboard pattern, while the dome features five rings of 28 sunken panels (coffers).
     High altars and apses were designed in the 1700's by Alessandro Specchi to feature Christian art within the Rotunda. The feature piece is the Virgin and Child, given to Pope Boniface for the building's dedication. The various niches around the Rotunda contain different chapels decorated with paintings, frescoes, statues and tombs of kings and famous artists.

Rating: 4 1/2 stars (out of 5)

Things You Should Know: - The Pantheon still functions as a church. Therefore, when you enter, it is respectful to remove your hat.
- If you walk around the exterior of the Pantheon, you can see the excavations that have been done of the previous buildings that were on the site.

- Because of the high amount of tourists, the piazza in front of the Pantheon is a popular place for beggars and pickpockets.
- Pope Urban the VIII melted down every scrap of bronze that once adorned the ceiling to the outrage of many Romans.
- April 21, the day celebrated as the founding of Rome, is marked by a special lighting effect in which the midday sun strikes the metal grille above the doorway, bathing the courtyard with light shining out of the Pantheon.
- The Fountain of the Pantheon in the square in front of the building was designed by Giacomo Della Porta in 1575 and sculpted out of marble by Leonardo Sormani.

- The Pantheon is closed on Jan. 1, May 1, and Dec. 25. Also, tourists are not allowed during Masses (holidays 10:30 am, Saturdays 5:00 pm).

Nearby: Obelisco della Minerva, Piazza Navona, Il Tempio di Adriano, Trevi Fountain