Pantheon Pantheon, Rome First created. 6 Sep Version London. Jerry Tse A Roman Masterpiece It was built in AD, nearly 2000 years ago. The poet Shelley called it “The unmeasured dome of Heaven.” All rights reserved. Rights belong to their respective owners. Available free for non-commercial and personal use.

Timeline Timeline of the Roman world

Roman Empire During the reign of Emperor Hadrian ( AD), the Roman Empire stretched all the way from Scotland to the Persian Gulf. All the lands bordering the Mediterranean sea were part of the Roman Empire. During his time the empire was relatively at peace with its neighbouring tribes. The only formidable enemy was the Parthian Empire, in now Iran, on the Eastern frontier. Roman world under Hadrian

The Arch The Roman invented concrete which was forgotten after the collapse of the empire. Together with bricks, these were commonly used in construction. The Roman also used arches extensively. Many of its buildings used curves in their construction. The Coliseum and the Pantheon are two well-known examples. Rubble Wall Arch Central heating Concrete vault Coffered vault Roman constructions

Roman Interior The Pantheon was built as a temple, just outside Rome. The Roman Pantheon On the original building the dome was with sheets of bronze giving it a shinny golden surface. The lower part of the external wall were covered with marbles. It also had a bronze door.

Interior Drawing A marvel of Roman engineering

Roman Pantheon

History of the Pantheon. Panini 18C It the 609 AD the building was transform into a church, dedicated to Santa Maria dei Martyri, after the bones of Christian martyrs were bought here from the catacombs. Pantheon - History In BC, it was the site used by Agrippa, who wanted to dedicate it to Augustus Caesar, his father-in-law. When Augustus declined the honour, it was dedicated to the major gods (Mars, Venus etc.) It was rectangular in shape. The current building was rebuilt between 118 and 125 AD, during the reign of Hadrian.

19C view

Pantheon – A milestone in the history of Architecture.

Pantheon – The Approach

Pantheon – The external brick wall

Satellite map Pantheon Plaza Navona

Pantheon – The Portico

Top View The main components of the building – the portico, the rotunda and the dome. Pantheon – A brilliant composition of geometric forms.

Architecture elements The ceiling is an unreinforced concrete dome resting on a thick circular wall or rotunda. The circular opening at the top of the dome is called the Oculus, providing light and ventilation. The Pantheon has a coffered dome. This reduces the material used for construction and therefore the weight of the ceiling. From the diagram above you can also see the cross-section of the roof get thinner as the dome gets higher. Method of Construction Very light stone called pumice, which float on water, were used as the raw material with the concrete. It further reduce the weight of the dome. Coffers dome Oculus Buttressing Piers 7 recesses for 7 gods Pier, support for span Portico Rotunda

Entrance The giant doorway

Pantheon – The concrete ceiling

Ceiling The diameter of the dome is 43.3 meters (142 ft). It remained the largest dome in the world for more than a millennium and is still the world’s largest unreinforced concrete dome. There are 5 rows of coffers, to reduce the weight of the dome, around the ceiling. The Oculus – only source of light

Image Raphael Tomb The statue of St Rasius.

The bust of Sanzio Raphael, at his grave.

Raphael, the painter buries here. There is a small black statue of him on the wall marking his grave. Raphael’s tomb

Interior Pantheon – Seven niches for seven gods.

Rotanda Interior This is the best preserved building of ancient Rome. Pantheon – The oldest building in the world, still in use today.

The main altar

High Altar Pantheon – The high altar

The ceiling over the main altar

Pantheon – The high altar

The tomb of the first king of Italy

Pantheon – The entrance

Pantheon – The ceiling of the portico

Pantheon – The portico

Pantheon – The side of the portico

Exterior at Night Pantheon – at night

Fountain Image

End The End Music - Albinoni’s oboe concerto in C Major, op 9 no st movement. Allegro All rights reserved. Rights belong to their respective owners. Available free for non-commercial and personal use.