The Pantheon is one of the most complete and perfect examples of ancient Roman architecture anywhere in the world. Still a functioning Catholic Church today, it is free to go inside and see the amazing oculus in the roof along with the tomb of Raphael among others.

"Pan" meaning everything and "theon" - divine, formed a combined symbolism as a homage to "all the Gods". The Pantheon was originally built as a pagan temple for the common people to worship the 7 Roman Gods - Sun, Moon, Venus, Saturn, Jupiter, Mercury, Mars.

The concept was quite revolutionary because before then temples were strictly for priests and vestals.

Built in about 125 A.D., the Pantheon looks today as it has looked for, well, thousands of years. It’s the best preserved Roman building, and possibly the best preserved building of its era anywhere in the world. It has been in constant use since it was first built, which is no small feat.

Walking into the Pantheon is a breathtaking experience. To think of the countless feet which have, over the past 2,000 years, walked exactly where I’m walking just gives me the chills.



Ancient Roman Pantheon Facts:

- The Pantheon's height of 43,3m equals the dome's diameter. Two identical domes would make a perfect sphere, which would fit inside a cube of the same dimensions.

- The entrance doors to the Pantheon are 7m high (22 feet) and made out of bronze.

- The weight of the dome is approximately 4,5 thousand tons.

- Contrary to some religious tales, rain does penetrate the oculus (there is a drain in the marble floor directly below the oculus).

- Inside the Roman Pantheon there are seven arched recesses which originally housed statues of the seven ancient Gods.

- A scene of Dan Brown's Angels and Demons was set in the Pantheon, where references are made to the tombs of Raphael and the two Italian kings.

- To this day some members of the Italian monarchist organization watch over the ex-king's tombs even though Italy has been a "Republic" since 1946. Both the Catholic authorities and the Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage (in charge of the security and maintenance) allow the practice to continue. Dan Brown also makes reference to this in the Angels and Demons.

- In 609 B.C., when the Roman Pantheon was given to the Catholic Church, Pope Boniface IV brought in 18 cart loads of bones of Christian martyrs and had them placed under the main altar. He then consecrated the Pantheon and dedicated it to Virgin Mary, hence its synonym Church of Santa Maria ad Martyrs.

- It is the best preserved of all ancient Roman buildings and probably the best preserved building from the era.

- The Pantheon dome is the largest un reinforced dome in the world and was the largest dome for 1311 years until Brunelleschi completed the Duomo of Florence in 1436.