Pantheon, Rome

**Etymology and History:**
– The name Pantheon means of, relating to, or common to all the gods in Ancient Greek.
– The concept of a temple dedicated to all the gods has been debated.
– The only definite pantheon recorded earlier than Agrippas was at Antioch in Syria.
– The origin of the name Pantheon has been speculated by different sources.
– The word Pantheon may have been a nickname rather than a formal name for the building.
– The Pantheon was part of a complex built by Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa in 29-19 BC.
– The building was likely Agrippas private sanctuary, not a public temple.
– The current Pantheon was not entirely built by Agrippa but underwent alterations.
– The Latin inscription on the temple facade credits Agrippa for the construction.
– Archaeological excavations revealed that the original Pantheon of Agrippa was destroyed.

**Architecture and Design:**
– The Pantheon features a large circular domed cella with a temple portico front.
– The concrete dome of the Pantheon is the worlds largest unreinforced dome.
– The height to the oculus and the diameter of the interior circle are both 43 meters.
– The building has been well-preserved due to continuous use throughout history.
– The Pantheon has been a church dedicated to St. Mary and the Martyrs since the 7th century.
– The Pantheon’s architecture features a perfect cube inscribed within a sphere.
– The dome’s dimensions are expressed in ancient Roman units of measurement.
– It holds the record for the world’s largest unreinforced concrete dome.
– The Pantheon is larger than earlier domes and does not require reinforcement.

**Legacy and Influence:**
– The Pantheon became a standard exemplar in classical architecture.
– The term Pantheon has been applied to buildings honoring illustrious dead.
– The Pantheon influenced later architects who copied its design.
– The Pantheon in Rome is a popular tourist destination, visited by over six million people in 2013.
– The Pantheon is managed by Italy’s Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism.

**Medieval and Renaissance History:**
– Byzantine emperor Phocas gave Pantheon to Pope Boniface IV in 609.
– Converted into a Christian church and consecrated to St. Mary and the Martyrs.
– Twenty-eight cartloads of holy relics of martyrs placed beneath the high altar.
– Saved from abandonment and destruction during the Early Middle Ages.
– Important burials at Pantheon include Raphael, Annibale Carracci, Arcangelo Corelli, and Baldassare Peruzzi.
– Adorned with paintings in the 15th century.

**Modern Usage and Structure:**
– Two kings of Italy buried in the Pantheon: Vittorio Emanuele II, Umberto I, and Queen Margherita.
– Monarchs of Italy of the House of Savoy were supposed to be buried there, but the monarchy abolished in 1946.
– The Pantheon functions as a Catholic church, hosting masses on Sundays and holy days.
– Weddings are occasionally held at the Pantheon.
– Originally approached by steps, later eliminated by raising the ground level.
– Pediment likely decorated with a gilded bronze eagle within a wreath.
– Design adjustments made due to logistical difficulties in receiving 50-foot columns.
– Grey granite columns in the pronaos were quarried in Egypt and transported to Rome.
– Large bronze doors to the cella are the oldest in Rome.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Pantheon