The Pantheon, from the Italian Pantheon, is one of the most ancient and visited attractions in Rome. It is also a historical and architectural monument of Ancient Rome, a legacy of the Renaissance.
Literally Pantheon is translated as Ham of all Gods. The Roman Pantheon is over two thousand years old and was erected on the site of the previous Pantheon, built by Mark Vipsanius Agrippa between 27 and 25 BC, as a temple dedicated to the twelve gods and the Monarch. It is believed that the current building, which we can see today, is the result of a radical reconstruction of the structure, commissioned by Emperor Hadriane between 118 and 125 AD.
On the pediment of the Pantion, a Latin inscription is visible: “M. AGRIPPA L F COS TERTIUM FECIT", which in translation sounds like: "Mark Agrippa, son of Lucius, three times consul, erected this."
The Pantheon was originally an ancient pagan temple. Later, on May 13, 609, when the Byzantine emperor Phocas presented the temple to Pope Boniface IV, the Pantheon was consecrated as the Christian Catholic Church of St. Mary and the Martyrs (Santa Maria ad Martires). Since then, the day of May 13 began to be celebrated as the feast of all saints among Catholics. True, later, somewhere in the middle of the eighteenth century, Pope Gregory III on November 1 consecrated one of the chapels of St. Peter's Cathedral, in honor of all the Saints. And from that moment on, the date of the celebration of All Saints' Day among Catholics and Protestants falls on November 1.
The Pantheon is a truly grandiose structure, here, like nowhere else, you can touch the history of centuries, although it is in Rome that there are many such places, take at least the most famous and other majestic buildings of Rome. In addition, in those days the building of the Pantheon was a great engineering achievement of antiquity.
Currently, in addition to the historical and architectural heritage, the Pantheon attracts many tourists with its interesting and unusual architecture. The fact is that there are no windows at all in the Pantheon, and the only source of light is a large round hole, 9 meters in diameter, located in the dome of the Pantheon. It is through this hole that sunlight enters the Pantheon, illuminating the interior.
In clear sunny weather, the beam of light entering this hole in the ceiling does not scatter, but comes in a direct stream from the dome to the floor, which attracts attention. In case of rain, the water falling down drains into 22 almost invisible holes in the floor. And when it snows, snowflakes falling into the opening of the dome, thanks to the wind and the internal atmosphere in the Pantheon, form fabulous whirlwinds that look like dances.
There is only one hole in the Pantheon, not because the Romans were too lazy to cut through the walls, not at all, it was done on purpose, because in Ancient Rome one hole meant the unity of all deities.
View of the Pantheon from the rear of the building, from Via della Palombella
Kings of Italy are buried in the Pantheon: Victor Emmanuel II and Umberto I, Queen Margherita of Savoy and the great Italian painter and architect Raphael.
Entrance to the Pantheon is completely free. The temple is open to the public from 8.30 to 19.30 on weekdays and from 9.00 to 18.00 on Sunday. Closed to the public on some holidays. Located in the heart of the historical part of Rome, at the address: Piazza della Rotonda, 00186 Roma, Italy. You can get there on foot or by metro, the nearest station is Barberini.
Piazza Rotunda in Rome
The Pantheon is in the square Piazza della Rotonda or simply, as the people call it Piazza del Pantheon and Rotunda Square.
This small but quite cozy square is located at the main entrance to the Pantheon. And it is named after its main structure, the Pantheon.
Around the square you can see buildings built in several architectural styles. Along the perimeter of the square there are hotels and cafes with open terraces, and in the center it is decorated with the fountain of the same name - Fontana del Pantheon.
This Renaissance fountain was built around 1575 by the architect Giacomo della Porta. Initially, the fountain consisted of a rectangular tank of gray African marble, and in the pool of the fountain there was a porphyry and two stone lions. In 1711, at the behest of Pope Clement XI Albani, the Fountain del Pantheon was reconstructed and crowned with a high Obelisk.
Later, in 1974 and in 1991-1992, the fountain was also reconstructed.
The Pantheon in Rome is one of the most famous sights in Italy. But the significance of this ancient building is much greater than its architectural perfection! Do you know what it symbolizes? Who is buried in it? What secret has been kept for more than 2000 years? And why is he so famous? Read about it in the article.
Pantheon - what is it and where is it located?
“Angelic, not human design”… these words were used by one of the greatest artistic geniuses of all time, Michelangelo, to describe the beauty and majesty of the Pantheon. Millennia later, it remains as majestic as it was at the beginning of its life.
Building address: Piazza della Rotonda in Rome (Italy). Today, all signs say "Basilica of Santa Maria Martyr" or "Basilica of Saint Mary and the Martyrs".
Among the ancient Greeks and Romans, the word "pantheon" called all the gods in the One - All-God.
Another meaning of the word is a monumental building in which great personalities are buried.
Roman Pantheon and its unsolved mystery
The building of the Pantheon is still shrouded in mystery. What was the original purpose of the temple? We are told that it was a place of worship for pagan gods. But the structure of the temple is very different from other, traditional temples in the Roman forum.
Interior of the Pantheon in the 18th century. Artist Giovanni Paolo Panini — 1AHJFNF8OkfG9Q at Google Cultural Institute maximum zoom level, Public Domain, Link The statesman, historian Dion Cassius (155 - 235) wrote in his History of Rome: “Perhaps it (the building) received this name because it is decorated with numerous statues of gods, including Mars and Venus; but mine personal opinion: because of its dome. It looks like heaven."
It is very likely that the building was intended for the "great deeds" of the emperors, i.e. was administrative.
What did the Byzantine emperor do with the Pantheon?
Today the Pantheon is a Catholic church. The Byzantine Emperor Phokas handed it over to Pope Boniface (Boniface) IV. Since then it has been used as a Christian temple. Since 609 masses have been held there every day. And you, too, can attend the service for free!
What will we never see in the temple again?
The Roman Pantheon is the best preserved and most influential building. The pediment (the triangular section above the inscription) is empty today, but there was once a sculpture depicting a battle of the Titans. Large bronze doors guard the entrance to the cella and were once covered in gold.
The interior was more amazing than today. The threshold of the sanctuary marked the world's largest solid block of Lucullan black and red marble. Entering the Pantheon for the first time, the visitor did not expect that he would find himself in a spacious round room. Its shape is hidden by the surrounding buildings, and the entrance is rectangular.
The contrast between the dark hall of the cella and the bright cult space is striking even today. But in ancient times it was even more impressive: the inside of the dome was covered with gilded bronze.
After the conquests of Trajan in Dacia, this precious metal was in abundance. Gold must have symbolized the highest levels of the earth's atmosphere. It was believed that they consist of pure fire.
Inside the rotunda (round hall) are seven apses. Theodor Mommsen (1817-1903) suggested that they should have been statues of the seven planets. There was also a statue of Julius Caesar, recognized after death as a heavenly God.
Their order is not fixed. But since the time of the Sicilian scientist Archimedes (287-212), it has been customary to use the sequence: Moon, Mercury, Venus, Sun, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn. In this case, the statue of the Sun should have stood in the central apse, directly opposite the entrance.
On the one hand, the Sun had three male planets: son Mars, father Jupiter and grandfather Saturn. On the other side are Venus, the effeminate Mercury and the Moon. Saturn and the Moon were farthest from the Sun. According to ancient theory, they were the coldest planets. Auspicious planets (Moon, Jupiter, Venus) and unfavorable (Saturn, Mercury, Mars) formed two equilateral triangles. Thus, the seven apses symbolized the universe.
In fact, you can contemplate the temple the same as the ancient Romans saw it, only plundered. Of course, a Christian altar appeared here, frescoes of saints, but the size of the building, its shape, along with a significant part of its decorations, remained the same.
The dome of the Pantheon and the philosophy of Plato
The dome of the Pantheon remains the largest unreinforced dome in the entire world. He's bigger than a dome St. Peter in the Vatican built in the 16th century.
The most striking aspect of the vaulted space is the "eye" or "oculus" - the building's only source of light. This is an unsurpassed pearl of the architecture of Ancient Rome!
A column of light from the oculus opens the way to Eternity. By Vladimir Shelyapin — Own work , CC BY-SA 3.0 , Link Philosophical ideas Plato quickly gained popularity in the 2nd century. They explain the function of the hole dome in the cosmological design of the Pantheon. The gods can move from our world to beyond. At the same time, they are a manifestation of a single All-Divine principle - the Pantheon. Now it is clear what Cassius Dio was talking about?
A stream of air light through a 6-meter hole opens the way to heaven. In winter, when the sun is low in the sky, a column of light moved across the gilded dome. Kind of a planetarium.
On the only day of the year, a beam of light falls right in front of the entrance. Someone claims that this happens on the birthday of Rome on April 21, someone on the day of the spring solstice (March 23), others on the day of the summer equinox (June 23). Where is the truth?
The dome of the Roman Pantheon (125) is larger in diameter than the dome of St. Peter's Cathedral by Michelangelo (1506) in the Vatican and the dome of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore Brunelleschi (1436).
How many Pantheons were there?
This Pantheon... is not the original! Do not be alarmed - this is still the only ancient temple that was not destroyed or damaged during the Middle Ages. But the third version.
- The first was built around 27 BC. (more than 2000 years ago), but burned down.
- The second, built in the 1st century AD, was also burned.
- What we see today was built (or restored) in 125 during the reign of Emperor Hadrian.
What's with that weird inscription above the entrance?
This, by the way, explains the inscription above the porch: "M AGRIPPA L F COS TERTIVM FECIT", which means: "Marcus Agrippa, son of Lucius, consul for the third time, built this." But Agrippa lived in the 1st century BC…. so how is that possible?
It is known that for all architectural structures, which the emperor Hadrian created during his reign, he never wrote his name, except for the temple of his father Trajan.
Maybe because the Roman Pantheon was restored, it has an inscription of its founder Marcus Agrippa?
Who built the Pantheon in Rome?
Presumably, the architect who built the Pantheon is Apollodorus, a native of Damascus. He was the architect of the bridge over the Danube (over 1 km long), the Alconetar bridge in Spain and other structures and was a favorite of Trajan.
But Adrian himself, as an architect, could also take part in the work. His architectural creations are known: the Villa of Hadrian, the Temple of Venus, the Arch of Hadrian in Athens, etc.
Apollodorus scoffed at Adrian's passion for the arts. The offended emperor exiled the architect and, after being accused of fictitious crimes, sentenced him to death.
Architectural "chips" of the Pantheon in Rome
The cross section of the Pantheon shows how the 43.3 m diameter sphere fits under its dome. Вy derivative work: Cmglee — This file was derived from: Baukunst Etrusker Römer.jpg : , CC BY-SA 3.0 , Link The combination of rectangular and round shapes in a single architectural ensemble presents great architectural difficulties. But the architect did an excellent job of combining cella and rotunda.
He also knew about the nature of his building materials. Therefore, lighter materials are at the top of the dome. At the lowest level I used travertine, the heaviest. Then I applied a mixture of travertine and tuff, followed by tuff and brick. And finally, pumice is the lightest and most porous of the materials on the dome ceiling.
Who is buried in the Roman Pantheon?
When the temple was handed over to the Christian church, the remains of Christian martyrs buried in the catacombs were transferred here.
The Pantheon also became the tomb for important figures in Italian history. The ashes of Kings Victor Emmanuel II and Umberto I, as well as the famous Renaissance painter Raphael and his bride, are buried here.
A tragic story of betrayed love
Raphael became engaged to Maria, the niece of a powerful cardinal, in 1514. But he postponed the marriage for six years. During this period, he had a passionate affair with the daughter of a local baker. Mary did not survive the betrayal. Soon after, Raphael also died. He was 37 years old.
Burial place of Raphael By Ricardo André Frantz (User:Tetraktys) — taken by Ricardo André Frantz, CC BY-SA 3.0 , Link What is the perfection of the architecture of the Pantheon in Rome?
Here everyone can feel like a deity, join eternity. You don't need to know any religious dogmas - the architecture does the transformation.
This is a temple to the whole world, to all immortal existing nature. He united everything in himself: earth and sky, people and gods, transient and eternal.
The Roman Pantheon reveals to man his spiritual secrets. Maybe this is the reason for his long life?
The Pantheon is an architectural and historical monument of antiquity, one of the significant sights of Rome. It was conceived as a temple of all the ancient Roman gods, but after the fall of the Roman Empire, it was re-consecrated into the Catholic Church of St. Mary and the Martyrs.
The mysterious history of the Pantheon
The Pantheon is the most mysterious of all the buildings of Ancient Rome. When, how and by whom it was built is not exactly known. It is assumed that the construction of the temple was completed in 27 BC under the auspices of the Roman statesman Marco Vipsanio Agrippa. After several fires, the Pantheon was badly damaged and in 124 AD, under the emperor Hadrian, it was rebuilt and acquired a modern look.
Although the new temple was very different from the original building, Emperor Hadrian wanted to pay tribute to Agrippa and left an original inscription with bronze letters on the facade of the building:
The Latin inscription "M.AGRIPPA.L.F.COS.TERTIVM.FECIT" literally translates as "Marco Agrippa, son of Lucius, built during his third consulate."
After the fall of the Roman Empire, the Pantheon was abandoned for several centuries, and only in 608 the Byzantine emperor Phocas handed it over to Pope Boniface IV, who dedicated the ancient building to St. Mary and all the Martyrs. During the unification of Italy (1871-1894), the Pantheon served as a fortress for kings.
There is another theory, according to which the Pantheon was built in the Middle Ages. Supporters of this version dispute the almost 2000th age of the temple, since the ancient building has been perfectly preserved to this day, and yet it is built of bricks and concrete, the service life of which is much shorter.
legends
The pantheon is shrouded amazing stories and legends. One belief says that the building was built on the spot from which the legendary Romulus, the founder of Rome, ascended to heaven. Another belief says that the oculus, the hole in the dome, was created by the devil fleeing the temple of God. Another legend reports that Cybele, an ancient Greek deity revered as the Great Mother of the gods, appeared in a dream to Agrippa to ask for the construction of a temple.
Pantheon - the architectural masterpiece of Rome
The Roman Pantheon is a revolutionary building in ancient Roman architecture. Its peculiarity lies in ideal proportions: the inner diameter of the dome corresponds to the height of the temple, and as a result, the structure has a spherical shape. The creator of the Pantheon is the Syrian architect and engineer Apollodorus from Damascus.
The ancient temple consists of a large rotunda covered with a hemispherical dome and 16 Corinthian columns supporting the pediment. As before, most of the building is lined with marble, but over the long history of the Pantheon, changes have been made on the outside and in some places brickwork can be seen.
As the best-preserved example of Roman monumental architecture, the Pantheon has had a huge impact on Western architecture. Many famous buildings were built that reflect the structure of the Pantheon with a portico and a dome: the Church of San Carlo al Corso in Milan, the Basilica of San Francesco di Paola in Naples, the Gran Madre di Dio Church in Turin, Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, in Melbourne and others.
Dome of the Pantheon
Today, the hemispherical dome of the Roman Pantheon, with a diameter of 43 meters, is the largest dome in the world built of concrete without reinforcement. For its construction, the architects used a very light mortar, but still the dome turned out to be very heavy. To hold such a huge hemisphere, it was necessary to increase the thickness of the walls to 6 meters.
In the center of the dome is the oculus - a round hole with a diameter of 9 meters, the so-called eye of the Pantheon. Air and light enter the temple only through this hole, since there are no windows in the building. When it rains, water gets into the oculus, so there are special drainage channels in the floor that collect water.
What is inside
The interior of the Pantheon is no less magnificent than the outside, although many statues and gilded bronze ornaments have disappeared over the long centuries. From the 15th century, the temple began to be enriched with frescoes. The most famous of them is the "Annunciation" by Melozzo da Forli.
The temple has seven niches, placed in pairs of columns, which originally served to worship the deities associated with the cult of the planets: the Sun, Moon, Venus, Saturn, Jupiter, Mercury and Mars. When the Pantheon was consecrated into a Christian basilica, these niches were used to install altars and tombs of famous people.
Burials in the Pantheon
Since the Renaissance, the Pantheon, like all churches, has become a burial place prominent people. Priests, famous cultural figures, and even kings are buried here: Umberto I and Emmanuel II. A special place is occupied by the tomb of the painter Raphael Santi.
Useful information
Address: Piazza della Rotonda, 00186 Roma RM, Italy
The Pantheon is located in the city center, nearby is the entire tourist infrastructure of the Italian capital: various cafes, restaurants, shops, tour agencies, attractions, etc.
On the square in front of the Pantheon, there is another attraction - an Egyptian obelisk, which was made in ancient Egypt during the reign of Pharaoh Ramses II at the end of the 13th century BC. By decree of Pope Clement XI, the obelisk was installed in an already existing fountain in front of the Pantheon in 1711.
How to get there
Since the nearest metro station Cavour is 2 km from the Pantheon, it is more convenient to get there by bus.
By bus get to one of the following stops:
- Rinascimento - No. 30, 70, 81, 87;
- Argentina - No. 30, 40, 46, 62, 64, 70, 81, 87;
- Corso/Minghetti - No. 62, 63, 83, 85.
Opening hours
- from Monday to Saturday - from 9:00 to 19:30;
- Sunday - from 9:00 to 18:00;
- holidays - from 9:00 to 13:00.
Entrance to the Pantheon free.
Pantheon on the map of Rome
The Pantheon is an architectural and historical monument of antiquity, one of the significant sights of Rome. It was conceived as a temple of all the ancient Roman gods, but after the fall of the Roman Empire, it was re-consecrated into the Catholic Church of St. Mary and the Martyrs.
The mysterious history of the Pantheon
The Pantheon is the most mysterious of all the buildings of Ancient Rome. When, how and by whom was he pos..." />
Tourists who came to Italy aspired to write poems about him, his images are taken home in photographs and postcards. The Temple of All Gods located in Rome (or, as this building is now called, the Pantheon) at the time of its construction was dedicated to the main gods revered in the majestic building is one of the most famous architectural monuments of the ancient period that has survived to this day. Years passed, the world changed, and after the fall of the empire, the pagan sanctuary was consecrated as the Christian church of St. Mary and the New Martyrs.
Story. First Pantheon - Agrippa's Pantheon
The first Temple of All the Gods in Rome was built between 27 and 25 BC. Despite the fact that the construction was carried out on the territory of the Roman Empire, the name of the Temple of All Gods in Rome comes from the Greek words: "pan" - "comprehensive", and "theon", which means "divine". It was dedicated to the main gods of the Romans:
- Jupiter - the supreme god of thunder, to whom Zeus corresponds in Greek mythology.
- Neptune - the god of the seas and earthquakes, the Greek counterpart is Poseidon.
- Mars - the god of war, he corresponds to the Greek Ares.
- Venus - the goddess of love and beauty, Aphrodite in Hellas.
- Pluto - the god of the underworld analogue - Hades.
- Mercury - the messenger of the gods, the patron of merchants and travelers (Hermes in Ancient Greece).
- Saturn - the titan of time, the Greek version - Kronos (Chronos).
The emperor’s close friend and son-in-law, Consul Mark Agrippa, took over the construction management, as evidenced by the inscription on the building lined with bronze letters. The first Pantheon was facing south and had the shape of a rectangle. The main decoration of the facade of the Roman Pantheon were columns and caryatids - statues of dressed women, replacing the columns that first appeared in ancient Greece. Opposite the Pantheon, on the opposite side of the square, stood the Temple of Neptune. At least it is this description of the Temple of all the gods in Rome that has come down to us.
The first Roman Pantheon burned down in a fire in the first century AD, but, like many other temples, it was rebuilt under the emperor Domitian, and its remains are now located at a depth of about two and a half meters.
The construction of the modern Temple of all the gods in Rome
The Pantheon of Mark Agrippa, restored under Domitian, was finally destroyed during the reign due to the fact that lightning struck it, therefore, under the emperor Hadrian, who wanted "this sanctuary of all the gods to represent the globe and the celestial sphere", it was completely rebuilt.
According to the markings on the bricks that make up the temple, its construction was carried out in the first half of the second century AD. The architect was Apollodorus of Damascus, one of the largest architects of that time, who supervised the construction of significant structures (among them, Thermae and Triumphal Arch) not only under Hadrian, but also before him, under Trajan.
architectural features
Unlike its predecessor, the Pantheon of Apollodorus was oriented to the north, and its size has increased significantly. Moreover, in the new project, a podium of eight steps was added to the architectural composition. The temple is able to accommodate a sphere - an ideal model of the Universe - with a diameter of 43 meters. The very architecture of the Temple of All Gods reflects the ideas of the Romans about the structure of the universe. The walls of the temple are quite thick, and their composition changes with height - they are denser at the bottom, and their upper part consists of lighter materials.
Of course, the most famous view from the facade - in most photos of the Temple of All the Gods in Rome, you can see sixteen tall columns on which the triangular pediment rests. On the pediment there is the same inscription as on Agrippa's Pantheon. There are holes under the pediment, with the help of which a bronze image of the symbol of power was fastened - an eagle with outstretched wings, which holds an oak wreath in its beak. Many of the bronze images by Diogenes of Athens that adorned the façade were later used to work on St. Peter's Basilica, an act considered barbaric by many people at the time.
Pantheon after the fall of the empire
After the collapse of the Roman Empire, the Pantheon only escaped destruction due to the fact that in 608 AD it was turned into a church by Pope Boniface IV, who a year later consecrated it in honor of St. Mary and the Martyrs. The name was due to the fact that it was here that the relics from the Roman catacombs were transported. Approximately forty-five years later, the Emperor of Constantinople, Constant II, removed bronze decorative elements and gilded tiles from the former Temple of All Gods, which were replaced with lead only almost two centuries after the visit of the Constantinopolitan monarch. In addition, after the Pantheon became Christian temple, all objects of the pagan cult of the Romans, images of the Roman gods were destroyed. An altar was erected in the temple, sculptural images of saints, frescoes on biblical subjects appeared.
In subsequent years, the fate of this majestic building was also unenviable. For a long time it was in disrepair, as, for example, during some period, it was at the center of the struggle between the noble Roman families Colonna and Orsini, acting as a fortress.
Who is buried in the Temple of All Gods?
The Renaissance brought the tradition of burying prominent people of their time in large cathedrals. She did not bypass the Pantheon, where many Renaissance painters found their last refuge, including one of the greatest masters of his era - Rafael Santi, who lies here with his bride Maria Bibbiena, architect Baldassare Peruzzi, musician Arcangelo Corelli.
The Savoy dynasty is also buried here. In the former Temple of All Gods, the first of the kings of united Italy is buried - Victor Emanuel II, Father of the Fatherland, as the inscription on his tombstone says. He was famous for his hard work for the good of the country and his struggle for its unity. The son and successor of the unifier of Italy, King Umberto, who was shot dead in 1900, is also buried in the Pantheon, next to his father. Thirty-six years later, Umberto's wife, Queen Margherita, was also buried in the Pantheon. Guards at the royal graves are provided on a voluntary basis by representatives of the National Institute of Honor Guard.
Excursions to the Pantheon
You can come to the Pantheon both with an organized tour, for example, during a tour of Rome, or go on your own, seeing with your own eyes the grandeur of ancient architecture. The entrance to the temple is open from half past nine in the morning until half past seven in the evening and is absolutely free, but it is closed to visitors on January 1, May 1 and December 25 - on public holidays. The Pantheon is located in Piazza della Rotonda. However, there are a number of details to consider when visiting.
What should be remembered when visiting the Pantheon?
If someone decides to visit, while in Rome, the Pantheon - the Temple of all the gods, he must remember that some rules must be observed.
- In the Pantheon, first of all, you should follow the dress code, since it is an active temple. Clothing must be closed. In extreme cases, you can wrap one of the scarves from the basket near the entrance around you.
- Food and drinks are not allowed into the temple.
- Must be turned off mobile phone. But at the same time in the temple you can take pictures and record videos.
Curious facts
One of the important distinguishing features of the cultural object we were considering was the fact that the Temple of All the Gods in Ancient Rome was the only place where absolutely any resident of the city could come and pray to their gods. This was an innovation, because before that only priests had access to the temples.
Only once a year - on the day of the summer equinox, June 21 - sunlight, passing through the "Eye of the Pantheon" (a round hole in the center of the temple dome), illuminates the people entering the temple. On other days at noon, sunlight forms a kind of "pillar", and at other hours it alternately illuminates niches with sculptures of saints, where statues of the gods were previously installed.
The rounded shape of the main part of the Pantheon is due to the fact that once there was a pool on this site, whose foundation became the basis for the temple built by Agrippa.
The Pantheon (temple of all gods) in Rome is the embodiment of the wealth and luxury of the Roman Empire, a historical monument of ancient culture. The Pantheon in Rome was built in the 2nd century AD.
Traveltipy / flickr.com Diana Robinson / flickr.com Luftphilia / flickr.com Thomas Shahan / flickr.com Moyan Brenn / flickr.com Darren Flinders / flickr.com Dennis Jarvis / flickr.com Kari Bluff / flickr.com Jun / flickr. com Stewart Butterfield / flickr.com Giulio Menna / flickr.com Moyan Brenn / flickr.com yeowatzup / flickr.com Fountain in front of the Pantheon in Rome (Diana Robinson / flickr.com) Diana Robinson / flickr.com cogito ergo imago / flickr.com Xiquinho Silva / flickr.com Bruce Harlick / flickr.com Darko / flickr.com
The temple of all gods is the embodiment of the wealth and luxury of the Roman Empire and just a wonderful monument of ancient culture. The Pantheon in Rome was built in the 2nd century AD. e. during the reign of Emperor Hadrian and still retains its mystery and grandeur.
For a long time, people here worshiped pagan deities and even made sacrifices to them, and in the 7th century the temple was consecrated as a Catholic one.
On the facade of the building one can see the inscription "M. Agrippa L. F. Cos. Tertium Fecit", which indicates that the construction was carried out by Mark Vipsanius Agrippa, who was elected consul three times. But we are talking about the former pantheon, founded before our era, which was later completed and significantly changed.
The front of the temple of all the gods is supported by massive granite columns 14 meters high, such can be seen in many architectural buildings of ancient Rome.
The Pantheon, as it were, consists of two buildings - the entrance and the rotunda itself - the main part cylindrical shape with a huge dome. Its diameter is 43 meters, and despite such dimensions - not a single window, only a round hole in the dome - the oculus or eye of the pantheon.
Dome of the Pantheon, Rome (Jun / flickr.com)
This is because one input for sun rays at that time it symbolized the single beginning of all the gods, they say that at different times of the year a stream of light from the eye fell either on one stone idol standing in a depression along the wall, or on another, unfortunately, the statues have not survived to our time. The height of the building is 42 meters, which creates an atmosphere of grandeur inside.
The dome has a perfect spherical shape and is truly a marvel of architecture. 140 caissons decorate it and at the same time support the structure, significantly reducing the weight of the vault.
From the base of the temple to the oculus, the thickness of the wall decreases, thereby ensuring the stability and safety of the building. Scientists have calculated that the weight of the dome is approximately five tons, even before the 19th century it was considered the largest in the world.
Paintings and sculptures of the 18th century remind us that the temple has long ceased to be a pantheon in its true meaning, that is, a place for worshiping pagan gods. This is Mary with Jesus in her arms, Jesus next to an unidentified saint, a fresco of the Madonna with a belt and St. Nicholas and others.
Fontana in front of the Pantheon in Rome (Diana Robinson / flickr.com)
In front of the pantheon itself there is an equally ancient fountain. During the history of its existence, it has been restored several times. At first, it was a figured pool, and water spouted from the bowl in the middle.
Then there were steps, a model of rocks and dolphins surrounding grotesque masks, the back of which was the muzzles of dragons - a special heraldic symbol of Pope Gregory XIII.
In 1711, at the request of Pope Clement XI, the fountain was improved, an ancient Egyptian obelisk, once owned by Ramses II, was installed in the middle and decorated with the symbols of the papal family - an eight-pointed star with three hills (papal triara) and crossed keys above it.
At the end of the 19th century, the original marble sculpture was dismantled and sent to the Museum of Rome. Currently, in front of the pantheon there is only a copy made by the designer Luigi Amici.
Roman Pantheon - the tomb of great people
Many artists and scientists have visited the temple in the history of its existence, and they all admired the unsurpassed power and luxury.
Michelangelo called the temple of all the gods the creation of angels, and Raphael Santi dreamed of being buried here, in his opinion, in a place that connects people and gods. And so it happened, after the death of the artist, his body was laid to rest in the pantheon, and since then it has become the burial place of great people.
In the Middle Ages, the temple of all the gods began to be used as a Christian church, the same fate was destined for many other pagan shrines, if they were not demolished at all.
Interior of the Pantheon in Rome (Darren Flinders / flickr.com)
The architect Bernini in the 16th century decided to build two small bell towers on top of the rotunda. But not all pagan symbols could be combined with Christianity.
The extension looked absolutely ridiculous. Called by the people "Bernini's donkey ears", they stood like that for two centuries, as a result they were nevertheless demolished.
The dome was originally covered in gilded bronze, but this was melted down to make a ciborium for St. Peter's.
On May 13, 609, the Pantheon was consecrated and transformed into the Church of St. Mary and the Martyrs. This date began to be celebrated as All Saints Day. This feast was later rescheduled when Pope Gregory III consecrated a chapel in St. Peter's Basilica on 1 November.
How and when to get to the Pantheon?
The Pantheon is located in Piazza della Rotonda, the nearest metro station is Barberini. Open to visitors from 9:00 to 18:00 on Sunday, and on all other days from 8:30 to 19:30. The visit is free.