The Pantheon is one of the objects that personifies the greatness of Rome. Entrance to it is free, which cannot but rejoice. I advise you to visit.
At the entrance to the Pantheon
In Rome, literally on every corner you can get in touch with history. The unique Roman monument - Pantheon, blessed "Temple of All Gods" - became a model of unsurpassed engineering thought by architects of ancient Rome.
Milestones in the Pantheon
At first, the majestic building on Piazza della Rotonda served as a pagan sanctuary. In ancient times, the main ancient Roman gods were worshiped here and animals were sacrificed. Agrippa, son-in-law of the emperor Augustus, erected the Pantheon building in 27 BC Then the structure was square. A huge fire of 80 years almost destroyed the temple. Under Domitian, it was restored, but in 110 it burned down again. The modern Pantheon was built at the beginning of the II century under the emperor Hadrian in place of the previous one.
Pantheon (Pantheon)
Emperor Phocas transferred the Pantheon to Pope Boniface IV in 608. In 609, the pagan temple was consecrated as a Christian church - in honor of St. Mary and the Martyrs. The remains of the first Christians were transferred here from the Roman catacombs. The consecration took place on November 1.
The Pantheon hardly touched time. He looks grand and stately even today. Millions of tourists and pilgrims flock to him from all over the planet. Ancient Roman "Temple of All Gods" - Tomb of the great citizens of Italy.
Building architecture
Hemispherical Rotunda
In the years 118-25. AD (already under the emperor Hadrian) The Pantheon was rebuilt and reconstructed by attaching a rotunda. This part of the building was blocked by a hemispherical dome of 43-meter diameter. The dome was made of brick and concrete. In the center of the arch, the architect provided a hole for lighting - the "oculus". A column of light passed into this round aperture (9 meters in diameter) in the daytime, giving the interior space a special inspired appearance.
Entrance portal with portico
The height of the rotunda, along with the dome, was also 43 meters. This ratio made the appearance of the building surprisingly proportional. Powerful walls (their thickness is 6 m) reliably supported the heavy dome construction. The entrance portal was framed by a portico with 16 massive columns. The front facade of the building overlooked Piazza della Rotonda, where today there is a small Egyptian obelisk.
On the tympanum of the temple, a solemn inscription in Latin is glorified, glorifying the name of Mark Agrippa, who built the first Pantheon.
It is still not known exactly who was the author of the Pantheon project. Historians attribute authorship to Apollodorus from Damascus. Outside, it is difficult to make an objective impression of the true size of the Pantheon - it is obscured by adjacent buildings.
Inner space
Interior
The interior of the temple impresses the first to come with its enormous size. The interior of the Pantheon is in sharp contrast with the emphasized ascetic appearance of the building.
Under the dome of the Pantheon, two thousand people are simultaneously accommodated. Huge space is not violated by supports and other supporting elements. The grand dome looks like a vault of heaven. A luminous hole in the center is surrounded by concentric rows of square niche-boxes, creating the illusion of infinity. Coffered niches facilitate the construction of the dome.
Luminous flux in the dome of the temple
The whole round wall of the rotunda is permeated with invisible voids. The inner wall is divided into two tiers. In the lower tier there are symmetrically located six high niches, decorated with pilasters and separated from the main room by columns. Between them in small niches are statues. The upper tier of the wall is separated by an entablature. There are rows of shallow niches lined by pilasters.
The interior marble walls were not preserved. The bronze sculptural decorations on the tympanum of the portico were also lost (the scene of the battle of the gods with the titans was depicted there). In the XVII century, at the behest of Pope Urban VIII, the bronze roofing of the portico was removed. It was used to create a canopy in St. Peter's Basilica.
The Roman Pantheon served as an indicative example of centric dome architecture for structures of the following centuries.
Entrance bronze doors 6 m high
The burial place of great people
The ancient temple became the tomb. The Italian rulers of different times are buried here: Queen Margarita of Savoy, King Victor Emmanuel II, King Umberto I. In a modest niche of marble, a brilliant Italian artist - Rafael Santi from Urbino rests under a laurel wreath. During his lifetime, he showed a desire to be buried in the Pantheon. The great Raphael lived only 37 years.
The name "pantheon" has now become a household name. This word means the solemn tomb - the mausoleum, where worthy sons of the people are buried.
Working hours
Mon-Sat 8: 30-19: 30;
Sun 9: 00-18: 00;
on holidays 9: 00-13: 00;
Closed - January 1, May 1 and December 25.
The entrance is free.
How to get there
Take line A metro to Barberini Station or
by bus 30, 40, 46, 62, 64, 70, 81, 87, 130F, 190F, 492, 628, 916, No. 5, No. 6, No. 7, No. 15, No. 20 to the stop Argentina.
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