The Pantheon Rome Photos, Historic Italian Building, Ancient Roman Architecture Design in Italy

Pantheon Rome Photos

Roman Building Photographs, temple in Italy built by Marcus Agrippa

post updated 16 Jan 2021

The Pantheon

Date built: 118-128AD

Pantheon Roma : Architettura Italia:

Roman temple built by Marcus Agrippa

Rebuilt by Emperor Hadrian around 126 AD

Circular building with Corinthian portico

Key feature: oculus – the circular hole in the middle of the coffered, concrete dome – that allows a mesmerising disk of light to rotate around the inner dome (when the sun shines of course)

Location: centre of the city, on west side of Via del Corso

The Pantheon dome is the world’s largest un-reinforced concrete dome

The building is cylindrical with a portico of large granite Corinthian columns (eight in the first rank and two groups of four behind) under a pediment. A rectangular vestibule links the porch to the rotunda, which is under a coffered concrete dome, with a central opening (oculus) to the sky.

Almost two thousand years after it was built, the Pantheon’s dome is still the world’s largest unreinforced concrete dome. The height to the oculus and the diameter of the interior circle are the same, 43 metres (142 ft).

The height from the floor to the oculus and the diameter of the circular interior are the same: 43.3 metres or 142 ft.

Roman Buildings : Traditional architecture

It is one of the best-preserved of all Ancient Roman buildings, in large part because it has been in continuous use throughout its history and, since the 7th century, the Pantheon has been in use as a church dedicated to “St. Mary and the Martyrs” (Latin: Sancta Maria ad Martyres) but informally known as “Santa Maria Rotonda”. The square in front of the Pantheon is called Piazza della Rotonda.

The Pantheon is a state property, managed by Italy’s Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism through the Polo Museale del Lazio. In 2013, it was visited by over 6 million people.

In 1747, the broad frieze below the dome with its false windows was “restored,” but bore little resemblance to the original. In the early decades of the 20th century, a piece of the original, as could be reconstructed from Renaissance drawings and paintings, was recreated in one of the panels.

Two kings of Italy are buried in the Pantheon: Vittorio Emanuele II and Umberto I, as well as Umberto’s Queen, Margherita.

The building is in use as a Catholic church. Masses are celebrated on Sundays and holy days. Weddings are also held in this magnificent space occasionally.

Building Images © Adrian Welch : available upon request: photos 2816×2112 pixels

Church just north of Pantheon:

Santa Maria Maddalena – St Mary Magdalen, Piazza di Maddalena
Façade – 1735: Giuseppe Sardi