Pantheon in Rome – history, photo, description, opening hours, prices 2021, interesting facts, map
The Pantheon is the Temple of all the Gods in Rome. This unique building is of great historical importance not only for Italy, but for the whole world. History, description, architecture, address with the display of the object on the map and its opening hours, interesting facts, ticket prices – all this information is in our article. We will tell you: how to get there on your own, what rules you need to follow when visiting and where you can stay near the temple.
History of the Pantheon in Rome
Built during the heyday of the ancient Roman Empire. Until now, on the pediment of this building, an inscription has been preserved, testifying to the first founder of the cult temple, Mark Agrippa.
Architect of the Temple of All Gods
Since the construction lasted for many centuries, many people took part in the construction of this temple, including the founder of this religious building Mark Agrippa, the famous architect of the Roman era Apollor of Damascus, the emperors Hadrian and Septimius Severus. Each of them contributed to the construction and restoration of a unique building of the Roman era.
Temple construction
As a result of studies of the markings on the bricks from which the walls were laid, it was proved that the construction was carried out under the direction of the famous architect of that era, Apollor of Damascus. Over the two centuries of its existence, the temple was destroyed by strong fires, often caused by lightning strikes. Therefore, in 126 AD. By order of Emperor Hadrian, they began to restore the Pantheon.
Despite the fact that the temple was rebuilt, Emperor Hadrian kept the name of its founder on the pediment of the building. Later in 202 AD. during the time of Emperor Septimius Severus, the building was restored, updating it with facing and finishing works.
Colosseum, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill with One Ticket
Entry Time to St. Peter's Basilica with Audio Guide
Fast Track Entry to Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel
Borghese Gallery: Reserved Admission Skip-the-
Line: Museums, Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica
Rome: Sightseeing Bus Tour hop-on hop-off
Rome bus ticket: 24, 48 or 72 hours
St. Peter's Basilica with dome climb and crypt visit
From Pagan Temple to Christian
It is an exception among traditional Greco-Roman temples, built in the form of a clear rectangle. Its centric form is reminiscent of Italian dwellings and sanctuary sites characteristic of pagan temples. Indeed, before the beginning of the VII century. The Pantheon was known as a pagan temple, in which the Romans asked for mercy from Jupiter and Mars, patronage from Venus and Pluto, protection from Neptune, Saturn and Mercury. All sacrifices to numerous gods were made on an altar, set opposite the opening in the dome. To appease the gods, animals were burned on the altar. In 608, after the consecration by Pope Boniface IV, the pagan temple became Christian.
Pantheon architecture
The design consists of a harmonious combination of clear geometric shapes: a parallelepiped-shaped portico, a hemisphere-shaped dome and a rotunda cylinder. The portico, decorated with two rows of high columns, completely occupies the area in front of the Pantheon, which creates the illusion of its massiveness.
Magnificent columns at the same time give lightness and grace to the portico, masking the heavy and bulky cylinder of the temple. The walls of the rotunda, more than 6 m thick, are firmly installed on a massive foundation, the depth of which is 4.5 m, and the thickness is 7.3 m.
The cylindrical wall is supported by eight pillars connected by arches. It is no coincidence that the dimensions of the diameter and height of the rotunda coincide. Ancient architects deliberately used such calculations, which made it possible to mentally fit a ball into the space of the rotunda, half of which would be occupied by the dome. The building masters of those times sought in this way to show a harmonious combination of a circle and a ball, symbolizing peace and eternity. The massive building, created from a ring of blank walls, is crowned with a dome, which seems to be pressed into these walls.
Pantheon outside and inside
Initially, the temple was erected with such a purpose as to impress precisely when visiting its inner part. Therefore, the interior decoration differs from the exterior in great grandeur. The portico leading to the building is decorated with sculptures, and 140 caissons arranged in five rows have been preserved high under the dome. The marble lining of the brick walls of the rotunda and the porphyry floor are also well preserved inside. The walls are divided into two tiers. In the lower tier there are 7 symmetrical niches.
Deep semicircular and rectangular niches in the walls make it possible to lighten structures and diversify the geometrically closed space. Columns, pilasters and panels draw the eye to the huge dome, which crowns the walls of the rotunda and creates a complete harmonious image of the temple. However, it cannot be said that due attention was not paid to the external design of the temple building. For the manufacture of 16 gigantic columns at the entrance, Greek marble and Egyptian granite were used. Outside, a huge dome is covered with gilded plates, and double gates made of bronze, preserved from the ancient era, and leading to a rectangular vestibule, amaze with their height, reaching 7 meters.
Dome
The temple of the gods is distinguished by the massiveness and round shape of the building, called the rotunda and topped with a dome. If you look at the dome from the outside, it seems almost flat, but inside its huge size is impressive. The diameter of the dome is 43.5 m, which corresponds to the width of the rotunda and slightly less than the height of the building itself. From the time of construction until the XIX century. it was the largest in Europe and occupied half the volume of the entire building. Depending on the height of the dome, different compositions of concrete were used. The lower tiers were erected using hard travertine chips, and for the construction of the upper tiers of the dome, a solution of lighter materials – crushed pumice and tuff was used.
The dome of the building is created in the form of an ideal hemisphere, in the center of which there is a hole, bordered by a border made of bronze. At noon, through a hole with a diameter of 9 m, the largest amount of sunlight penetrates into the temple building, forming a kind of light column. The dome, which is a hemisphere, combines the innovation of the engineering thought of the ancient masters and the classical architecture of places of worship. Carved recesses inside the concrete surface of the dome play the role of a decorative decoration in the form of 140 caissons and at the same time significantly lighten the weight of the vault, which weighs up to 5,000 tons.
What is the hole in the dome for?
The hole in the center of the dome, called the eye, symbolizes the Sun. Since there are no window openings in the walls of the rotunda, it is only thanks to this huge opening that sunlight enters the building. According to popular tradition, the hole was formed when the church mass sounded. The evil forces that entered the building of the Pantheon, unable to withstand the sounds of the divine liturgy, destroyed the upper part of the dome in order to leave the sacred place forever. When animals were burned during the sacrifice, a large amount of acrid smoke came out through the hole in the dome. At this time, the Romans prayed, calling on the deities and hoping that the deities would be able to hear them sooner and accept the sacrifice.
In rainy weather, despite the huge size of the “eye”, water very rarely penetrates into the temple. However, so that precipitation does not prevent parishioners from visiting the temple and listening to mass, drainage holes for water were prudently equipped in the floor. It is worth noting that the competent engineering calculations of the ancient masters created the “eye” in such a way that raindrops do not let the streams of warm air constantly moving upward.
Interesting Facts
There are many legends and stories associated with the Pantheon and its construction. From those ancient times to this day, one can often hear from the Romans that the dome of the temple was built on a huge pile of garbage poured inside the building under construction. In order to quickly get rid of the garbage after the completion of construction, by order of the emperor, they hid gold in it. As for the “eye of the Pantheon”, scientists have suggested that the temple served as a sundial. Indeed, throughout the year the sun illuminates individual parts of the temple in different ways, and on the day of the founding of Rome – April 21, the heavenly body brightly illuminates the entrance.
In those days, this phenomenon was quite symbolic, since the emperor was the first to enter the temple, illuminated by dazzling sunlight. There is an opinion that the ideal shape of the dome prompted Nicolaus Copernicus to the idea of the heliocentric structure of the universe, thanks to which the scientist even managed to accurately calculate and prove that the center of the universe is not the Earth, but the Sun. The Pantheon became the first Roman temple, inside which not only priests, but everyone who wished to pray to the gods could get inside.
Who is buried in the temple
The Pantheon was admired by many great people. Michelangelo considered this temple the creation of the angels themselves. Raphael called the Pantheon a place that unites heaven with earth and gods with people, and dreamed of being buried here.
The temple of all the gods has become the place where the bodies of many famous people are buried, among whom the first was buried by the master of painting Raphael, and later the famous architect Baldassare Peruzzi, musician Arcangelo Corelli, sculptor Flaminio Vacca. It is also a tomb for crowned persons: Queen Margaret, as well as Kings Umberto I and Victor Emmanuel II.
Where is it located and how to get to it
Easily accessible by metro going to the Barberini station, as well as tram number 8 and many city buses.
Адрес: Piazza della Rotonda, 00186
The temple, built in the era of the Roman Empire, receives visitors daily from 8.30 to 19.30. Only on Sunday open from 9.00. until 18.00. On holidays it accepts tourists from 9.00 to 13.00. and does not work on Easter, as well as January 1, and December 25. A visit to this unique attraction can be combined with a visit to other equally significant places: the Colosseum, St. Peter's Basilica, the Roman Forum and the Vatican Museums. Despite the daily work, getting into the temple is not easy due to the large influx of people who want to visit this legendary place. Even in winter, when the influx of tourists subsides, a queue forms at the temple. Therefore, it is better to come to the opening in the morning or settle in the hotel closest to the Pantheon.
Visiting Rules
Going to see the sights, you should follow certain rules:
If you follow these simple rules, you can safely go to see this unique temple. Fortunately, no one forbids taking pictures and making videos here. Plus, you don't have to pay to enter.
Where to stay – Hotel Pantheon
We recommend considering this particular hotel, as it is located only 50m from the temple of all gods. It also offers easy access to other attractions, such as the famous Trevi Fountain is just a couple of minutes' walk away. The hotel itself deserves special attention. The building was built in the 17th century. Its impeccable interior immediately immerses you in a pleasant atmosphere. Here, every detail is selected with elegance. The rooms have everything you need for a comfortable stay.
There are several categories of rooms:
Pets are allowed and there is no extra charge. Nearby there are shops of famous brands, cafes and restaurants.
We also recommend other accommodation options in Rome:
Book in advance a transfer from Rome airport to the hotel. You will be met by a driver with a sign on which your name will be indicated, will help you with your luggage and will comfortably deliver you to your destination. The price is indicated for a car of a certain class (from economy to Minibus for 19 seats) and does not depend on the number of passengers and the address within the city. You can additionally order a child seat.