THE PANTHEON 128 AD Rome, italy \
Sketch: Exterior
Sketch: Interior
HISTORY 27 AD – General Marcus Agrippa Son-in-law of Emperor Augustus Rectangular structure in center of the city 80 AD – damaged by fire 80 AD – rebuilt under Emperor Domitian 110 AD – struck by lightning and burned down
HISTORY 118 – 128 AD – rebuilt under Emperor Hadrian Rotunda walls, dome each took 4-5 years “Marcus Agrippa, son of Lucius, in his third consulate, made it.” 609 AD – Given to Popes by Emperor Phocas
FORM Corinthian columns 60 tons each Dragged, floated, and rolled all the way from Egypt – Nile River Mediterranean Sea Tiber River Granite, with marble bases and capitals
FORM Rotunda (round room with dome) Still the world's largest unreinforced concrete dome (no steel rods) Perfect sphere (the height to the oculus and the diameter of the interior circle are the same, 43.3 meters) Sources of light – oculus and entry door Lighter concrete on upper levels reduces weight Hidden chambers within the rotunda form a honeycomb structure – also reduces weight Coffers and oculus also reduce weight Floor is still the Roman original Interior is deliberately made to outshine the exterior
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FUNCTION Religious temple PAN – all, THEON – of the gods 7 Roman gods: Sun, Moon, Venus, Saturn, Jupiter, Mercury, Mars 7 niches in wall where the statues were placed A place where the emperor could make public appearances in a setting which reminded onlookers of his divine status, equal with the other gods of the Roman pantheon and his deified emperor predecessors
FUNCTION Converted to Catholic Church in 609 AD Renaissance Today Took excellent care of the building – one of the best-preserved of all Ancient Roman buildings Renaissance Tomb for people in the arts Today Used as a Catholic Church Holds mass daily Tourist attraction
360 degree view https://www.360cities.net/image/pantheon-rome
ARCHITECTURAL IMPORTANCE Similar to Greeks: Portico (rectangular porch with columns) Pantheon Parthenon
ARCHITECTURAL IMPORTANCE Similar to Greeks: Corinthian Columns Temple of Olympian Zeus (Athens) Pantheon
ARCHITECTURAL IMPORTANCE Similar to Greeks: Decorated frieze and pediment Parthenon Temple of Hephaestus (Athens) Pantheon
ARCHITECTURAL IMPORTANCE Similar to Greeks: Symmetric balance on both sides Parthenon Pantheon
ARCHITECTURAL IMPORTANCE New Innovations: Based on a circle giving it the dome shape
ARCHITECTURAL IMPORTANCE New Innovations: Varying weight of concrete allowed vaulted domed roof
ARCHITECTURAL IMPORTANCE New Innovations: Focus on interior space
ARCHITECTURAL IMPORTANCE New Innovations: Oculus in the ceiling Coffers
Legacy Highly influential building, particularly the dome/rotunda
Le Pantheon in Paris
Monticello, Virginia
St. Peter’s, The Vatican (Rome)
Il Duomo, Florence
U.S. Capitol
Capitol, Olympia, WA
Tacoma Dome!
Khan Academy video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaY8zqYfQI0