The Pantheon:
The greatest feat of architecture in history
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Introduction
to the Pantheon
Timeline
of the Pantheon
The first Pantheon is built in Rome and is dedicated by Marcus Agrippa - 27 BCE
80 CE - The first Pantheon Rome is destroyed in a fire despite survivng the Great Fire of Rome (64 CE)
The current Pantheon is built in Rome by Spanish born Roman Emperor Hadrian - ~125 CE
Byzantine emperor Phocas gives the Pantheon to Pope Boniface IV - 609 CE
110 CE - Second Pantheon in Rome is hit by lightning and destroyed in the following fire for the second time
202 CE - The Pantheon is repaired by Septimius Severus and Caracalla
609 CE - Pope Boniface IV converts the Pantheon into a Christian Church
The Pantheon is used as a tomb from the beginning of the renaissance - ~1300 CE
1629 CE - Pope Urban VIII tears away the bronze ceiling of the portico and erects the 'Donkey's Ear'
The Pantheon goes through a restoration and the donkey's ears are removed - 1882 CE
1747 CE- A minor 'restoration' went underway
The Pantheon is one of the most brilliant structural designs in history.
The current Pantheon, which was constructed in approximately 125 AD, has stood for almost 1900 years. Despite this, the Pantheon’s dome still remains the largest unreinforced dome in the world, with a diameter of approximately 43.4m (150 Roman Feet).
General Information
on the Pantheon
Latin:Pan = All, Theon = Gods
The current Pantheon was completed by Emperor Hadrian in approximately 125 CE, the two earlier Pantheon buildings having been destroyed in fires. It is commonly believed that Hadrian himself was the architect but there is no proof.
Hadrian usually dedicated rebuilt buildings and monuments in honour of the original dedicator, so he had the wording
“M·AGRIPPA·L·F·COS·TERTIVM·FECIT”
(Marcus Agrippa, son of Lucius, made [this building] when consul for the third time)
inscribed into the portico. The Pantheon is most famous for its spectacular dome, but most people do not take the time to discover the amazing architecture and design that lies behind this magnificent building. The Pantheon was a temple to all the Roman gods. Originally there would have been statues of the gods in niches throughout the Pantheon. The Pantheon has stood for almost 1,900 years and remains the best preserved Roman building still standing today...
The Pantheon is an architectural wonder. There have actually been three temples in total on this site, and the one that still stands today was built almost 1900 years ago, in approximately 125 CE.
To this day, the dome, which has an approximate diameter of 43.4m (150 Roman feet), is the largest unreinforced dome in the world. If the dome of the rotunda were flipped upside down, it would fit perfectly inside the rotunda.
Materials:
Structurally, the Pantheon was ahead of its time. It was constructed using a range of different types of (Roman) concrete. The supporting walls of the rotunda’s lower section are wide and made of concrete containing heavier stones such as travertine. The upper section of the rotunda walls are made from a slightly lighter mix of travertine and tufa and towards the top of the wall the mix is tufa and brick. At the bottom of the dome, the concrete is approx. 6.5m thick (although there is a lot of controversy over this exact measurement). The drums section of the dome is made from all brick. The walls of the dome gradually taper and become thinner to reduce the weight of the dome, so that the area closest to the oculus at the very top, is about 1.18m thick and the concrete here is lighter in weight as it is mixed with volcanic pumice or tuff...
Architecture
of the Pantheon
My
Conclusion
The Romans were great engineers. Part of this was because of their own ideas and experience, but I as I researched the Pantheon, I discovered that the Romans became even more powerful because they were willing learn and to take good ideas from the people they conquered and so they constantly improved their skills.
Two examples related to the Pantheon:
1. The Romans probably learned about concrete from the Greeks or Egyptians.
2. The Romans learned how to use arches to make large openings in a wall from the Etruscans, who used arches for gates of many Etruscan towns.
