2016 ITALY Rome 7 - The Amazing Pantheon

What a spectacular edifice! Concrete (similar to today's "recipe") was invented by the Romans around 200 BC. This is still the largest un-reinforced dome EVER built with concrete!!!  It has been in continuous use for over 2,000 years. First as a pagan temple, then a Christian church. Amazing!

Pantheon means "temple of all gods" (Greek gods originally). The first building on this site was erected by Caesar Augustus starting in 14 BC. Two fires destroyed that and another ancient temple on this site before Emperor Hadrian built this structure around 126 AD. Many other buildings in Roma have been cannibalized for marble sheets and what not, but to this one.

In the 7th century is was converted to St. Mary and the Martyrs Catholic Church. Masses are celebrated on Sundays and holy days, and weddings are performed here, too.

As we rounded the corner we saw the back side of the building. Even that was impressive. I could not imagine what was coming.

As we entered the crowded Piazza della Rotonda, we had our first glimpse of the entry to this amazing structure. It is rumored that when Michaelangelo first laid eyes on this building, he said it must have been designed by angels, not humans.

The outside front portico is surrounded by 16 massive Corinthian-style granite columns. Each weighs 60 tons and is 39 feet (11.8 meters) tall. They were imported from Egypt  --carted on rolling logs from the quarry, floated down the Nile River across the Mediterranean Sea and up the Tiber River at high water levels into Rome. It takes four adults holding outstretched arms to completely encircle a column.

At the door entry are wall sculptures and "inlaid" columns. Each is grooved from floor to tall ceiling. We learned this was done by long rods being slid back and forth on the granite multitudes of times to make the grooves. This was an amazing fact for me. Glad that was not my job in life.

You enter the dome through impressive bronze double doors. Each measures 21 feet (6.4 meters) tall. You can't see here, but what wonderful metal workmanship! 

The height and diameter of the dome are the same at 142 foot (43.3 meters). When you walk in you feel engulfed by the open space. The next thing you notice is the oculus (or eye) at the top of the dome. It appears ever higher because each "stair step" ring of concrete is smaller than the last, increasing the effect. The concrete weight of the dome is 4,999 tons (4,535 metric tons). And each cement layer is a little thinner as it gets higher. The top layers are made with airy, pumice volcanic stone.

The open air oculus looks small, but is 29.5 feet (9 meters) in diameter. During inclement weather, the incoming rain water disappears through 21 nearly invisible drain holess in the floor. See dark spot upper left.

On sunny days, beams of light pass through at constantly changing angles that highlight various parts of the colorful marble floor. The marbles came from all over the Roman Empire. The yellow marble is from Tunisia and cannot be found in nature any more.

Another interesting phenomenon is that on noon every April 21, the light from the oculus "aims" through a small window above the entry door and shines outside onto the covered portico floor. Amazing!

Various shrines and art surround on every wall. A main attraction is the crypt of Victor Emmanuel II, first king of United Rome. Also buried there is King Umberto I and his wife Queen Margherita of Savoy (in ancient northwest Italy where we visited in 2015). This queen is the namesake of the margherita pizza created in 1889 in Naples. Its recipe includes red (pizza sauce), white (mozzarella cheese), and green (basil) in honor of Italy's national colors and flag.

Others buried here are painters Raphael (and his fiancée) and Carracci, composer Corelli, and architect Peruzzi.

Around the interior walls you also see seven niches which honored the seven Greek gods representative of the planets--Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Saturn, and Jupiter. Now these niche alters honor Christian martyrs, the Madonna of Clemency, Saint Joseph, the crucifixion, and the annunciation. Renaissance paintings and sculpture abound.

Here are some photos of the interior.

Above is a sepulchre, but I don't remember who's.

Above is Archangel Gabriel. It is widely believed to be sculpted by Leonardo daVinci.

This edifice is one of the best preserved of ancient Roman structures. That is mainly because it has been in continuous use since its construction. It is now a state-owned property of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and is visited by over 6 million people each year. For more info, check Wikipedia at:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantheon,_Rome or there are lots of other Internet sites as this topic.

As I proof my words above, I noticed I said "amazing" multiple times, but at every turn it IS jaw-dropping amazing!