Uncovering the Secrets of Rome's Pantheon: 13 Fascinating Facts You Need to Know!
Welcome to the majestic and awe-inspiring Pantheon - a true masterpiece of ancient Roman engineering and architecture! From its remarkable dome to the intricate details of its design, the Pantheon is a wonder that has captured the imagination of generations. In this blog post, we will explore the 13 most fascinating features of this iconic structure that continues to stand the test of time. So buckle up and get ready to be blown away by the sheer magnificence of the Pantheon!
- Why Was The Pantheon Built? The original purpose of the Pantheon is not entirely clear, but it is believed to have been a temple dedicated to all the gods of ancient Rome. Despite popular claims on the internet, the Pantheon was not built for the purpose of worshipping all pagan gods. In fact, Romans typically constructed temples dedicated to a single deity, with a few exceptions for gods with related purposes or deified couples. The actual function of the Pantheon remains largely unknown, and any explanation can only be speculative. One possible theory, proposed by archaeology professor Amanda Claridge, suggests that the Pantheon may have been used for the worship of emperors who had not yet been deified. Romans generally did not worship living emperors as gods, but Claridge suggests that the Pantheon may have served as a space for the emperor to appear alongside deified predecessors and other gods, rather than a traditional temple.
- The name "Pantheon" comes from the ancient Greek words "pan" (meaning "all") and "theos" (meaning "gods"). The Pantheon was said to have been originally built as a temple to all the gods of ancient Rome. However, after Christianity became the dominant religion in Rome, the Pantheon was consecrated as a Christian church in the 7th century and is still used as a church today.
- The Dome is Kind of Amazing: The dome of the Pantheon is made of concrete and is still the largest unreinforced concrete dome in the world. With a diameter of approximately 142 feet, surpasses even the dome of St. Peter's Basilica. Surprisingly, it is entirely unreinforced and lacks rebar, making it the largest concrete dome in the world without reinforcement. Furthermore, this astounding feat was accomplished by the Romans in 125 A.D. and not by subsequent architects. It is truly remarkable!
- A Perfect Sphere: The height of the dome is exactly equal to its diameter, so that a perfect sphere would fit exactly inside!
- The oculus, or circular opening at the top of the dome, is 27 feet in diameter and is the only source of natural light in the building. So when it rains, the Pantheon does get wet. However, the water is drained away through a series of 22 well-camouflaged holes in the slightly sloping floor. This system of drainage was built into the original design of the Pantheon by the ancient Romans. Despite being over 2000 years old, it still functions today and helps to keep the interior of the Pantheon relatively dry during rainstorms.
- This Isn't The Original Pantheon! The Pantheon has survived numerous fires and invasions over the centuries, thanks in part to its sturdy construction and the fact that it was converted into a church in the 7th century. In fact the Pantheon standing today is not the original one, but it is still an ancient structure. Interestingly, it is actually the third iteration of the building. The first one was built around 27 B.C. but burned down, and the second one, built in the 1st century A.D., also met the same fate. The current Pantheon was constructed in 125 A.D. and fortunately, it survived later fires.
- Who Built The Pantheon? The inscription above the porch reads “M·AGRIPPA·L·F·COS·TERTIVM·FECIT,” which translates to “Marcus Agrippa, son of Lucius, consul for the third time, built this” in English. Agrippa, who lived in the 1st century B.C., actually built the first Pantheon, not the third. The inscription was added as a tribute to him, recognizing him as the original founder.
- Who Is Buried in The Pantheon? The Pantheon is the final resting place of several important figures, including several Italian kings. It is widely known that Raphael, the renowned Renaissance artist, is interred inside the Pantheon. However, what many are unaware of is that his fiancée, Maria Bibbiena, is also buried next to him. The circumstances surrounding their burial are bittersweet and tragic. Raphael became engaged to Maria, the niece of a powerful cardinal, in 1514 but postponed the wedding for six years. During that time, he had an intense love affair with the daughter of a local baker, which left Maria waiting until it was too late, and she passed away. Raphael also died soon after, at the young age of 37.
- The Pantheon's Walls are Impressively Thick An interesting fact about the Pantheon is the immense thickness of its walls. Building a structure as large and enduring as the Pantheon required a solid foundation, and the walls had to be constructed 20 feet (6 meters) thick to withstand the outward pressure exerted by the dome, in addition to the weight of the structure itself. Although it may be difficult to discern today, there are some areas within the interior that offer a glimpse of the wall's thickness. By comparing the original brick to other parts of the interior, one can appreciate the sheer size of the walls.
- The bronze doors of the Pantheon weigh 20 tons each and are considered some of the finest examples of Roman metalworking. However the bronze doors that are presently at the Pantheon are not the original ones, although they are ancient. This is evident by observing the marble door frame, which is too large for the current doors. The threshold has also been deeply recut to fit the smaller doors. Despite not being the original doors, they have been in place since at least the 15th century. There is speculation that the original doors of the Pantheon might have been from the church of St. John of Lateran, but there is no conclusive evidence to support this theory.
- The Columns Are One Solid Piece Of Stone! Each of the columns is one piece of stone. In ancient times, it was quite common to build columns using many slabs of marble or stone piled up in such a way as to make it almost unnoticeable that they were not one piece. Each of these columns is one solid piece of stone and they are 48 feet (15 meters) high! Since the columns would have come from Egypt, how in the world did they get them to Rome? Well, first they would have to transport them by ship across the raging Mediterranean Sea, which could take months. Once they got them to land, they’d have to drag them on wooden rollers (yes, drag 48-foot columns by hand) until they arrived at their desired spot. At that point, they would usually raise them up with elephants. Impressed yet**?**
- The Pantheon has been featured in movies: The Pantheon has been featured in several movies over the years. Some notable examples include:
- "Roman Holiday" (1953): This classic romantic comedy starring Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck features a scene filmed in front of the Pantheon.
- "Angels & Demons" (2009): This thriller based on the novel by Dan Brown includes several scenes filmed both inside and outside the Pantheon.
- "The Lizzie McGuire Movie" (2003): This teen comedy features a scene filmed in front of the Pantheon where Lizzie McGuire tosses a coin into the fountain.
- "Inferno" (2016): This mystery thriller, also based on a Dan Brown novel, includes a scene filmed inside the Pantheon.
- The Pantheon is still considered one of the greatest architectural achievements of the ancient world and attracts millions of visitors each year.
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