The Pantheon reminds us of the power and grandeur of the once dominant Roman Empire. Until the 7th century, idolaters prayed here, then Christians. Currently, the Pantheon is included in the list of the main attractions of Rome. The initiative to build the main temple of the Roman Empire belonged to the commander Marcus Agrippa. According to his plan, the Pantheon, or "Temple of all the Gods", was to become part of the architectural complex on Mars Square. According to legend, it was built in 27 BC on the spot from which one of the founders of Rome, Romulus, ascended to heaven. The complex also included the Baths of Agrippa and the Basilica of Neptune.
It was previously believed that the Pantheon had withstood all the blows and retained its original appearance. This opinion was reinforced by the inscription on its façade, which has survived to this day: "Mark Agrippa, son of Lucius, elected consul for the third time, built." But archaeological excavations have proven that the Pantheon building, except for the façade, was completely destroyed, after which it was restored according to the drawings. A fire that broke out in the 80s destroyed the temple and nearby buildings. By order of Domitian, it was restored, but 30 years later it suffered the same fate. Finally, it was rebuilt by Emperor Hadrian in 128 AD, and the inscription on the façade remained unchanged.
Until the 7th century, the pantheon was dedicated to the 7 planets that were believed to revolve around the Earth: the Moon, Mercury, Venus, the Sun, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. It was saved from oblivion and destruction by idolaters by being consecrated in 609, after which it was converted into a Christian temple.
The Pantheon is a unique structure: its dome and walls are one whole. Each wall is 6 meters thick. In the center of the dome is the so-called "Eye of the Pantheon" - a round hole 9 meters in diameter. According to legend, it appeared when the church service began. The evil spirits could not stand the holy liturgy and immediately left the temple through the dome, leaving a "window" there. It is from this oculus that light enters the Pantheon, since there are no other windows in the temple.
Another legend is associated with the Pantheon dome - its ideal outlines and the light emanating from the "eye" helped the famous astronomer Copernicus finally formulate the heliocentric theory. Inside the building, you can see niches where statues of gods associated with the planets listed above stood. The rays of the sun coming out of the oculus fell on each statue in turn and turned the Roman Pantheon into a kind of observatory.
This is what the dome looks like from above:
The interior is dominated by geometric shapes: rectangles, squares and circles. They are mainly depicted on the marble floor of the Pantheon: the "chessboard" probably replaces the omphalia - purple circles.
The church is home to some of Italy's most famous figures: King Vittorio Emanuele II, his son Umberto I with his wife, violinist Arcangelo Corelli, sculptor Flaminio Vacci, artists Giovanni da Udine, Tadeo Zuccaro, Perino del Vaga and the canonized Raphael Santi.
The portico rests on 16 marble columns. The diameter of each is 1.5 meters, the height is 12 meters, the weight is 60 tons.
In front of the Pantheon there is an Obelisk and a fountain of Pharaoh Ramses II.
The address of the Pantheon: Piazza della Rotonda, 00186.
The Pantheon is open every day: 09:00–19:00.
Entrance to the Pantheon is free.
How to get there:
- by metro line A - stop Barberini;
- by bus №30, 40, 62, 64, 81, 87, 492 - stop Argentina;
- by tram №8 - stop Argentina.
Official site of the Pantheon in Rome: www.pantheonroma.com.
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