Temple of all gods in Rome: name, photo, description. Roman Pantheon - “temple in the name of all gods Pantheon during the rain

The Roman Pantheon is “a temple in the name of all gods.”

The desire to embody the greatness of Ancient Rome in architectural forms manifested itself in the Pantheon. The very first building of the ancient Roman temple of the Pantheon was built by Agrippa, the son-in-law of Emperor Octavian Augustus, in honor of the victory over Antony and Cleopatra at the Battle of Cape Actium. Around 110 AD the temple burned down from a lightning strike, and Emperor Hadrian built on the old foundation in 125 AD. erected a new building, more magnificent than the previous one. From the original construction of Agrippa (27 BC), only the front portico with 16 columns and the inscription on the pediment survived: “Marcus Agrippa built this in his third consulate.” The high technical performance and harmonious artistic image of the Pantheon make many scientists assume that the temple was designed by Apollodorus of Damascus, the great Roman architect and favorite of Emperor Trajan. The Roman Pantheon is rightfully considered an outstanding engineering achievement of antiquity. It is a massive round building covered with a grandiose hemispherical dome. The dome with a diameter of over 43 meters does not overwhelm the visitor with its power, but solemnly rises above the head, like the vault of heaven. Until the end of the 19th century, not a single domed temple could exceed the size of the “hemisphere” of the Roman Pantheon. Renaissance architects admired the dome. Michelangelo studied its design while working on the design of St. Peter's Basilica.

The all-seeing eye of the Pantheon.

There are no windows in the Pantheon. The only source of light is a 9-meter round hole at the top of the dome, symbolizing the heavenly all-seeing eye. The hole is not glazed, and the light penetrating through it is not scattered in space, but is accumulated in the form of a huge light column. According to Italian professor Giulio Magli, the Pantheon was used as a giant sundial. The direction and shape of the sun's rays change throughout the year, and on April 21, that is, the day of the founding of Rome, the sun illuminates the entrance. The emperor, entering the temple on this solemn day, could bathe in the rays of the sun.

The Roman Pantheon is a temple of pagans and Catholics.

The Pantheon has survived better than other religious buildings of antiquity because it has always been a functioning temple. Initially, the Romans performed rituals here in the name of the 7 most revered gods - Neptune, Jupiter, Mars, Venus, Pluto, Mercury and Saturn. Sacrificial animals were burned on the altar located exactly under the dome. In 609, the Byzantine Emperor Phocas gave the building to Pope Boniface IV, who converted the Pantheon into a Catholic church. Since then, the Pantheon has become the "Temple of Saint Mary and the Martyrs", or "Santa Maria della Rotunda". All objects associated with the pagan cult were destroyed, and in their place magnificent frescoes with biblical scenes and statues of Christian saints appeared in the temple. Legend has it that during the consecration of the temple, pagan spirits left the Pantheon and flew through the dome, punching a hole in it. This is exactly how the all-seeing eye appeared, the purpose of which scientists are still arguing about.

The Roman Pantheon is the national mausoleum.

Prominent Italians are buried in the Roman Pantheon, such as the painters B. Peruzzi, Raphael Santi and others, as well as kings Victor Emmanuel II, Umberto I and Queen Margaret. The first celebrity buried in the Pantheon was Raphael, who died in 1520. On the painter’s marble sarcophagus, his friend, Cardinal Pietro Bembo, wrote the following epitaph: “Here lies Raphael, during whose life Mother Nature feared to be defeated forever, and after his death she was afraid to die with him.”

The Pantheon is the famous temple of all the gods in Rome, one of the iconic monuments of the Eternal City, of worldwide importance, and one of the most mysterious structures on our Planet. This is the best preserved architectural creation of Ancient Rome, a symbol of the greatness of the Roman Empire.

It is not known exactly when and how the Pantheon was built. It is generally accepted that its construction was completed by 126 AD. This conclusion was made based on the study of surviving documents through logical reasoning. There are no exact dates in the documents. The 2nd century AD is considered the heyday of the architecture of Ancient Rome, and the Pantheon is the crowning achievement of the architects of that time.

Until the beginning of the 7th century, the Pantheon was a pagan temple of Jupiter, Mars, Venus, Pluto, Neptune, Saturn and Mercury. That is, it was still not dedicated to all gods, but only to 7 chosen ones. In 608, the pagan temple was saved from destruction by its transformation into a Christian one. The Church of Saint Mary and Martyrs (Santa Maria ad Martires) was consecrated by Pope Boniface. The name of the temple was given in honor of the relics of Christian martyrs, who were transferred here from the catacombs of Rome. Sometimes the Pantheon is called the Rotunda of St. Mary (Santa Maria Rotonda).

The temple was built during the reign of Emperor Hadrian on the site of the destroyed first Pantheon. The first temple was built in 27–25 BC under the emperor Marcus Vipsanias Agrippa and was repeatedly damaged by fires caused by lightning strikes. Agrippa's Pantheon faced south and had a rectangular shape.

The builders of the new Pantheon kept the name of the founder on the pediment of the building. The Latin inscription reads: “M. AGRIPPA L F COS TERTIVM FECIT" (Marcus Agrippa, son of Lucius, elected consul for the third time, erected this).

The current Pantheon is oriented to the north, and its size significantly exceeds the temple that existed before it. Initially, the structure stood on a podium, to which 8 steps led. But over the many centuries of the temple’s existence, the ground level around it has risen, as a result, today the temple is located in a shallow depression. In addition, the Pantheon stands at the lowest point in Rome, which is periodically flooded, but even this did not reduce the structural strength of the structure...

In 202, during the reign of Septimius Severus and his son Caracalla, the Roman Pantheon was restored. On the architrave was carved the inscription: “Emperor Caesar Lucius Septimius Severus Pius Pertinax of Arabia, Adiabene, Parthian, greatest, Pontifex Maximus, 10 times tribune, 11 times emperor, 3 times consul, Father of the Fatherland, proconsul, and Emperor Caesar Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Pius Felix Augustus, 5 times tribune, consul, proconsul, the Pantheon, damaged by time, was restored with all care.”

The design of the Pantheon is unique. The dome with the walls of the brick and concrete rotunda forms a single shell. The centric shape of the building is characteristic of the pagan temples of ancient Italy. The walls of the rotunda are more than 6 meters thick and are installed on a massive foundation. The dimensions of the diameter of the dome and the height of the rotunda are the same, so the internal space of the temple can accommodate a full sphere - an ideal shape symbolizing the image of the Universe. The concrete hemispherical dome of the Pantheon has a diameter of 43.5 meters and weighs about 5,000 tons. The dome is covered with gilded bronze plates.

The name of the architect who built the Pantheon is unknown. Presumably, Apollodorus from Damascus, an engineer, architect, designer and sculptor of the 2nd century AD, took part in the construction of the temple.

The secret of the concrete from which the dome of the Pantheon is made has been lost. The dome consists of circles that are clearly visible on the coffered ceiling. Previously, the ceiling was gilded. The dome of the temple represents the vault of heaven, illuminated by the main celestial body - the Sun.

Another incredible fact about the Pantheon is that its dome is not reinforced!!! And the thickness of the dome is 1.2 meters!

The composition of concrete varies at different levels. On the lower belts the filler is travertine chips, and on the upper ones - chips of tuff and light pumice. However, concrete of variable hardness and density at the beginning of our era? There are researchers who believe that the dome was cast by aliens, and the Pantheon itself is nothing more than a powerful supermagnetron. And the Romans say that the dome of the temple was cast on a huge pile of rubbish poured inside the building under construction. Then, the garbage was instantly stolen and removed by the city residents, because to speed up the cleaning, gold coins were mixed into it.

Modern science states that the lifespan of concrete is a maximum of 600 years, and that of brickwork - even less. There is no reasonable explanation for how the Pantheon has stood for 2000 years. Many researchers believe that the Pantheon is much younger, since the information in the surviving documents is fragmentary, and there is no clear line of existence of this monument over the centuries...

In the center of the dome is the “Eye of the Pantheon” (oculus) - a round hole with a diameter of 9 meters. Daylight penetrates into the temple through the oculus. Legend has it that the hole (Oculus) was formed when the church mass began in the temple. The evil forces could not withstand the sounds of the divine liturgy and urgently left the Sacred place, destroying the upper part of the dome. In general, more than one article could be written about the legends that shroud the Pantheon! And if you consider how many legends were invented by the Romans to attract tourists, then there is enough for a book.

There is an assumption that the Pantheon temple was a sundial and at the same time an astronomical observatory. Every year on the summer solstice, June 21, at noon, the sun passes through the Eye of the Pantheon and illuminates everyone who enters the main door of the temple with a ray of light. By the way, in ancient chronicles the word “aedes” (temple) was never used in relation to the Pantheon, but only simply “Pantheum”. Also, the orientation of the building to the north is extremely unusual for a temple. Was the Pantheon really a temple?

The Pantheon has a special drainage system to remove rainwater. The floor is made slightly convex under the oculus, water flows into drainage holes, and then goes into the underground drainage system.

The entrance to the Pantheon is decorated with a massive portico, decorated with two rows of tall Corinthian columns. The height of the columns is 14 m, the diameter is 1.5 meters, each weight is 60 tons. The columns and pediment of the Pantheon are made of large stone blocks that were cut down in Egyptian quarries. Delivering such columns to the construction site even today, with the availability of powerful equipment, is an incredibly difficult task.

The Pantheon's pediment was previously decorated with bronze figures, statues and decorative elements, believed to be the work of Diogenes of Athens. In the 17th century, all bronze decorations from the facade were removed and used by the architect Bernini during the construction of St. Peter's Basilica by order of Pope Urban VIII. Even the bronze coffered ceiling of the portico was dismantled and then melted down.

At the same time, Bernini, by order of the Pope, in order to give the temple a more Christian appearance, built two awkward bell towers at the top, nicknamed by the Romans “Bernini's donkey ears.” The disfigured ears of the Bell Tower adorned the Pantheon for 200 years, then they were demolished. Earlier, in 1270, an attempt was made to add a small bell tower to the left above the portico, but it was later also destroyed. The Pantheon does not tolerate additional decorations...

In the space under the triangular pediment you can see holes for attaching decorative bronze trim. Presumably, a symbol of power was attached here - a bronze eagle with outstretched wings, with an oak wreath in its beak.

The interior decoration of the Pantheon is well preserved. The floor and wall cladding of the rotunda are made of multi-colored marble. It is impossible to believe that this is an original finish... Many researchers do not believe it!

Directly below the opening of the dome there was an altar on which sacrificial animals were put on fire. Acrid smoke came out through a hole in the dome.

Seven large niches, alternately trapezoidal and rounded, were dedicated to the five planets known to the ancient Romans, as well as to the luminaries - the Sun and the Moon.

The niches are separated from the central hall by Corinthian columns.

Previously, the Pantheon housed statues of the seven most revered gods of Roman mythology. After the transformation of the pagan temple into a Christian church, all objects associated with paganism were destroyed.

Today in the Pantheon there are statues of Saint Anastasio, Saint Agnes, Madonna del Cacco, Saint Eracio, Saint Nicholas, the Coronation of the Virgin sculpture, as well as a group sculpture of Saint Anne and the Blessed Virgin Mary. By order of Pope Clement XI, an altar and an apse were built in the Pantheon. In 1840, a choir designed by Luigi Poletti was added. In 1926, during restoration work, the Pantheon received an organ. It was installed behind the statue of Saint Razius, to the left of the main altar.

The walls in niches and chapels are painted with frescoes.

During the Renaissance, burials of famous people began to be made in the Pantheon. Here, among other things, is the grave of the Renaissance genius Raphael Santi. On his tomb there is a statue of the Madonna and an inscription carved: “Nature took care to take him from life, because she was afraid that he would surpass her with his art.” His fiancee Maria Bibbiena is buried next to Raphael’s grave.

The Pantheon became the first ancient Roman temple, into which not only priests, but everyone who wanted to pray to the gods could enter.

The Pantheon Temple is located in the very center of Rome in Piazza della Rotonda. On the opposite side of the square there was once the Temple of Neptune. The dimensions of Piazza della Rotonda are about 60 meters from north to south and 40 meters from west to east. It is always crowded here; along the perimeter of the square there are cozy (and expensive) restaurants.

In the center of Piazza della Rotonda is the Pantheon fountain and an Egyptian obelisk made of pink marble, covered with hieroglyphs. This is one of two obelisks created under Pharaoh Ramses II for the temple of the god Ra in Heliopolis. The top of the obelisk is decorated with a bronze star - one of the symbols of the coat of arms of Pope Clement XI.

The Pantheon Fountain is beautiful and has a very long history of changes due to the decrees of various Popes. I will definitely write about this and photograph the details of the fountain in more detail next time.

Throughout its existence, the Pantheon never closed and always served as a temple. Visiting has been free for 2000 years, but from December this year an entrance fee of 3 euros is planned.

In the image and likeness of the Roman Pantheon, several temples were built in different places around the world. One of these copies is located in Malta in the city of Mosta. The Mosta Dome is one of the largest cathedrals in the world.

Whatever the goal of a tourist who chooses Rome as the main object to visit, he cannot miss the Pantheon for several reasons:

• it is an architectural masterpiece, the likes of which cannot be found anywhere in the world;
• this is the only ancient building that escaped destruction and reconstruction, which means it truly conveys the atmosphere of antiquity;
• it's easy to find on a tourist map;
• it is completely free and works seven days a week;
• it's impressive.

We will try to ensure that you get there prepared, so we will tell you about the history of this temple, what you must see there, how best to get here, where to get the necessary information on the spot. Reviews of experienced tourists about the Pantheon, given at the end of the article, will help you make your final decision about visiting the temple of all gods in Rome.

A bit of history

For the first time, the idea of ​​​​creating a temple dedicated to all the main gods of the Romans at once matured in the head of the consul Agrippa, a relative and ally of the first emperor Octavian Augustus. Agrippa created an amazing structure not so much in appearance as in content. Unlike other temples dedicated to one, maximum two gods, the first Pantheon housed the altars of all the main deities of the Romans. Jupiter, Juno, Saturn, Venus, Mars - here it was possible to make a sacrifice to each individually or all together. But even this revolutionary innovation is not the main thing.

Only priests had the right to enter ancient temples; all rituals were carried out in the squares in front of the sanctuaries. Agrippa breaks this tradition. Having ordered the construction of the entrance to the temple in the form of a triumphal arch, he ensured that everyone who enters here symbolically becomes a “triumphant,” and therefore “equal to the gods.” Now the townspeople could boldly go where “uninitiation” had previously prevented them from doing so. The priests were not delighted with such freedom, but did not dare to argue with the influential builder.

The first temple of all the gods stood for a little more than a century (27 BC - 80 AD), two fires that happened thirty years apart practically destroyed the first Pantheon. On the site of the democratic temple there is a bathing pool. This was the case until Emperor Hadrian, an educated and active man, came to power.

Emperor Hadrian loved to build temples and did not like Christians. He went down in history as the creator of the Pantheon in Rome and as a tormentor who killed four Christian saints at once (Faith, Hope, Love and their mother Sophia). The second act has not been proven by historians, but the first is documented.

Was involved in the creation of the project and construction work architectural genius Apollodorus of Damascus. The giant dome covering the cylindrical “body” of the temple became a miracle already during construction. The altars of the main gods located in a circle corresponded to the main idea of ​​the temple - accessibility to the public.

When Christianity was proclaimed the only religion of Rome, all the sculptures were knocked down from the pediment at the entrance to the Pantheon, the pagan statues were taken out of the temple and the heavy copper doors were closed. For more than two hundred years the building was simply empty. Why wasn't it destroyed or turned into a Christian church right away? No answers have been found yet. It can be assumed that this place, which had served pagan idols for a long time, was not considered suitable for a Christian temple.

The Pantheon received new life at the beginning of the 7th century, when it was presented by the Byzantine emperor to the Pope. The new name of the temple is the Church of St. Mary and the Martyrs.

From the 14th to the 16th centuries, the Pantheon served as a fortress; its walls could withstand the most powerful assault, but the times were turbulent. When peace reigned, the Pantheon received a third life. In a fit of general renewal and revelry of the Baroque, one famous architect added two ridiculous turrets above the entrance to the temple of all gods. The Romans immediately nicknamed them “donkey ears” and quickly removed them. This is how it still stands, devoid of external decorations, but grandiose and monumental.

What to see?

Before entering the Pantheon:

• Obelisk and fountain- the obelisk is truly Egyptian and ancient. For a long time he simply lay in the bushes, knocked down by the barbarians. It was installed during the Renaissance, and decorated with a fountain in the 16th century.

• Colonnade and pediment above the entrance- the antique columns have been preserved, and on the pediment (the triangle under the roof) you can see holes into which fasteners for the sculptural group “Battle of the Titans” were inserted (destroyed as a pagan decoration). The inscription reads that “Agrippa built this.” A common thing for temples. Emperor Hadrian did not indicate himself, considering the idea of ​​Agrippa to be the main one in the Pantheon.
• - heavy, thick. They were installed at a time when the temple played the role of a fortification.

• Sculptures at the entrance- Agrippa and Hadrian - founding fathers;

Inside the Pantheon:

• Dome- you can look at it endlessly. There are no windows in the temple of all gods; light enters through an opening on the top of the head. There are several legends associated with this “eye”: Christian - when the first mass was held in the Pantheon, pagan spirits or demons escaped from here through the top of the temple (not very believable, but impressive to many); folk - Copernicus finally came to the conclusion that the Earth revolves around the Sun, looking at the dome of the Pantheon.
• Burials- here you can find the resting place of Raphael (the most popular place), as well as the graves of the first kings of a united Italy.

• Sculptures in niches- some have been preserved since ancient times and were “adapted” for the needs of Christians.
• Icon of the main altar- a list of the main miraculous icon of Poland (the Mother of God of Chestnokhov). They say that miraculous healings and fulfillment of desires are not uncommon here.

At the entrance to the temple, you can take an audio guide in Russian by filling out the application form and leaving a document as collateral (passport, credit card, etc.). The service itself costs 5 euros. Entry and photos are free.

Working hours: from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. On Sunday - until 6 pm. On holidays - only until one o'clock in the afternoon.

How to get there?

Nearest - Barberini(A line). From there you need to walk 700 meters.

Bus stop "Argentina" There are routes 40, 64, 87, 492. You will have to walk 400 meters.

Tram number 8- not the most convenient transport, except on the road from the Vatican.

Having examined the Pantheon, it’s time to move on, explore and explore other historical sites, galleries, museums and fountains. Rome is literally overflowing with attractions that you want to see. To get as much done as possible, it is advisable to have a clear route in front of you. We'll tell you how not to miss anything.

Pantheon - Temple of all Gods is located in Rome. This unique building has great historical significance not only for Italy, but for the whole world. History, description, architecture, address with the object displayed 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 must follow when visiting, and where you can stay near the temple.

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From a pagan temple to a Christian one

It is an exception among traditional Greco-Roman temples, built in the shape of a clear rectangle. Its centric shape is reminiscent of Italian dwellings and sanctuary sites characteristic of pagan temples. Indeed, until the beginning of the 7th century. The Pantheon was known as a pagan temple in which the Romans asked for favor from Jupiter and Mars, protection from Venus and Pluto, protection from Neptune, Saturn and Mercury. All sacrifices to numerous gods were performed on an altar installed 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 portico in the shape of a parallelepiped, a dome in the shape of a hemisphere and a rotunda cylinder. The portico, decorated with two rows of tall columns, completely occupies the area in front of the Pantheon, which creates the illusion of its massiveness.

The magnificent columns at the same time give the portico lightness and grace, masking the heavy and bulky cylinder of the temple. The walls of the rotunda are more than 6 m thick and are firmly set on a massive foundation, which is 4.5 m deep and 7.3 m thick.

The cylindrical wall is supported by eight pillars connected by arches. It is no coincidence that the diameter and height of the rotunda are the same. Ancient architects deliberately used such calculations that allowed them to mentally fit a ball into the space of the rotunda, half of which would be occupied by the dome. The construction 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 by a dome that seems pressed into these walls.

Pantheon outside and inside

Initially, the temple was built for the purpose of making an impression when visiting its inner part. Therefore, the interior decoration differs from the exterior in great grandeur. The portico leading into the building is decorated with sculptures, and high under the dome, 140 caissons arranged in five rows have been preserved. 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. The lower tier contains 7 symmetrical niches.

Deep semicircular and rectangular niches in the walls make it possible to lighten structures and diversify a 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. Greek marble and Egyptian granite were used to make 16 gigantic columns at the entrance. Outside, the huge dome is covered with gilded plates, and the double bronze gates, preserved from the ancient era, leading to the rectangular vestibule, are striking in 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 will seem almost flat, but inside its enormous size is impressive. The diameter of the dome is 43.5 m, which corresponds to the width of the rotunda and is slightly less than the height of the building itself. From the time of construction until the 19th 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 solid travertine chips, and for the construction of the upper tiers of the dome, a solution of lighter materials was used - crushed pumice and tuff.

The dome of the building is created in the shape 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 ideas of ancient masters and the classical architecture of religious buildings. Carved recesses inside the concrete surface of the dome act as 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 thousand 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, only thanks to this huge hole does sunlight penetrate into the building. According to popular legend, the hole was formed when the church mass sounded. The evil forces that entered the Pantheon building, 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 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 enormous size of the “eye,” water very rarely penetrates into the temple. However, to prevent precipitation from preventing parishioners from visiting the church and listening to Mass, drain holes for water were prudently installed in the floor. It is worth noting that competent engineering calculations of the ancient masters created the “eye” in such a way that raindrops do not allow the constantly moving upward flows of warm air to pass through.

There are many legends and stories associated with the Pantheon and its construction. From those ancient times to this day, you can often hear from the Romans that the dome of the temple was built on a huge pile of rubbish poured inside the building under construction. To quickly get rid of the garbage after construction was completed, by order of the emperor, gold was hidden 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, illuminated by the dazzling rays of the sun, was the first to enter the temple. There is an opinion that the ideal shape of the dome prompted Nicolaus Copernicus to come up with 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, into which not only priests, but everyone who wanted to pray to the gods could enter.

Who is buried in the temple

The Pantheon was admired by many great people. Michelangelo considered this temple to be 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 Gods became the place where the bodies of many famous people were buried, among whom the master of painting Raphael was buried first, and later the famous architect Baldassare Peruzzi, musician Arcangelo Corelli, and 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 there

Easily accessible by metro to Barberini station, tram 8 and many city buses.

Address: Piazza della Rotonda, 00186

The temple, built during the era of the Roman Empire, receives visitors daily from 8.30 to 19.30. Only open on Sunday from 9.00. until 18.00. On holidays it receives tourists from 9.00 to 13.00. and is closed on Easter, 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, it is not easy to get to the temple due to the large influx of people wanting 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 stay in the hotel closest to the Pantheon.

Visiting rules

When going to see a sight, you should follow certain rules:

• Avoid stocking up on food and drinks
• Even in extreme heat, it is not customary to enter the temple building with bare shoulders and knees
• It is prohibited to use mobile phones

If you follow these simple rules, you can safely go to explore this unique temple. Fortunately, no one forbids taking photographs or making videos here. Plus, you don't have to pay to enter.

Where to stay – Pantheon Hotel

We recommend considering this particular hotel, as it is located just 50m from the Temple of All Gods. In addition, it is convenient to reach other attractions, for example, you can walk to the famous Trevi Fountain in just a couple of minutes. The hotel itself deserves special attention. The building was built in the 17th century. Its impeccable interior immediately immerses you in a pleasant atmosphere. Every detail is chosen here with elegance. The rooms have everything you need for a comfortable stay.

There are several room categories:

• Triple room
• budget single room
• double or twin room
• quadruple room

Pets are allowed at no additional cost. There are shops of famous brands, cafes and restaurants nearby.

The Pantheon in Rome is one of the most famous landmarks in Italy. But the significance of this ancient building is much greater than its architectural perfection! Do you know what it symbolizes? Who is buried in it? What secret has been kept for more than 2000 years? And why is he so famous? Read about this in the article.

Pantheon - what is it and where?

“An angelic, not a human project”... These words were used by one of the greatest artistic geniuses of all time - Michelangelo, to describe the beauty and grandeur of the Pantheon. Thousands of years later, the building remains as majestic as it was at the beginning of its life.

Pantheon: the meaning of the word

This word has several meanings.

1. Temple dedicated to all gods.
2. A monumental building in which either great personalities are buried or their monuments are located. For example, the Pantheon in Paris is the burial place of prominent French citizens.
3. The ancient Greeks and Romans used the word “pantheon” to call all the gods in One - All-God. Nowadays this is how they designate the host of gods of a particular people. For example, the pantheon of Slavic gods, ancient Greek, ancient Roman... .
4. A group of illustrious or famous people. It can be said that Dostoevsky occupies a place in the pantheon of great Russian writers.

The mystery of the name of the temple

The original purpose of the temple is still unclear. Historians say that it was a place of worship for pagan gods. But the structure of the building is very different from other, traditional temples in the Roman forum.

The statesman and historian Cassius Dio (155 - 235) wrote in his “History of Rome”: “ Perhaps it received this name because it is decorated with numerous statues of gods, including Mars and Venus; but my own opinion: because of its dome. It reminds me of heaven».

It is believed that the building was intended for the “great affairs” of the emperors, i.e. was administrative and aimed at glorifying power. It now belongs to the Catholic Church and is officially called the Basilica of Santa Maria Martyr (Basilica of St. Mary and the Martyrs).

Where is the Roman Pantheon located?

Building address: Piazza della Rotonda (Piazza della Rotonda) in Rome (Italy).

Metro station Barberini (line A)
Buses No. 30, 40, 62, 64, 81, 87 and 492
Tram No. 8

You can find it by following the sign “Basilica di Santa Maria ad Martyres”.

Opening hours
From 09:00 to 19:30, Sun from 09:00 to 18:00.

Since this is a working temple, entry is free. The Byzantine Emperor Phokas gave it to Pope Boniface IV. Since then, starting in 609, masses have been held there every day. And you, too, can attend the service completely free of charge!

Official website: http://www.pantheonroma.com

You can book an unusual excursion link.

Symbolism of the Roman Pantheon according to Mommsen

The Roman Pantheon is the best preserved and influential building. The pediment (the triangular section above the entrance) is empty today, but there was once a sculpture of the Battle of the Titans there. Large bronze doors guard the entrance to the cella (interior) and were once covered in gold.

The interior was more amazing than today. The threshold of the sanctuary is marked by the largest single block of Lucullan black and red marble in the world. The round shape of the Pantheon is hidden by the buildings around it, and the entrance is rectangular in plan. When the visitor enters the spacious round room, he is struck by the contrast between the dark hall of the cella and the bright cult space. But in ancient times it was even more impressive because the inside of the dome was covered with gilded bronze.

After Trajan's conquests in Dacia, the precious metal was in abundance. Gold symbolized the highest levels of heaven. They were believed to consist of the pure elemental fire.

Inside the rotunda (round hall) there are seven apses (protrusions of the building). Theodor Mommsen (1817-1903), a German historian, winner of the 1902 Nobel Prize in Literature for his work “Roman History”, an honorary citizen of Rome, suggested that they contained statues of the seven planetary gods and Julius Caesar, deified after death.

The order of the statues in the temple is not recorded in written sources. But since the time of the Sicilian scientist Archimedes (287-212 BC), it has been customary to use the sequence: Moon, Mercury, Venus, Sun, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn. In this case, the statue of the Sun should have stood in the central apse, directly opposite the entrance.

On the one hand, the Sun had three male planets: son Mars, father Jupiter and grandfather Saturn. On the other side are Venus, effeminate Mercury and the Moon. Saturn and the Moon were farthest from the Sun. According to ancient theory, they were the coldest planets. Favorable planets (Moon, Jupiter, Venus) and unfavorable planets (Saturn, Mercury, Mars) formed two equilateral triangles. So the seven apses symbolized the Universe.

The dome of the Pantheon and its cosmological design

The Pantheon Dome remains the largest unreinforced dome in the entire world and an unsurpassed architectural gem! A striking aspect of the vaulted space is the "eye" or "oculus" - the only source of light in the building.

In the 2nd century, Plato's philosophical ideas quickly gained popularity:

• One(lat. panthevm, other Greek πάνθειον reads like pantheon) is the basis of all existence;
• It is the origin of everything - all ideas, things, phenomena, properties, and, at the same time, nothing.
• The universe is shaped like a ball because the ball contains all other shapes and ideas.

“This spherical body has a soul; she lives in the center of it; from there its effects spread throughout the body; she produces all movements in the universe, she is the cause of order in the universe, the source of all cosmic life; the actions of the soul of the universe are manifested especially in the movements of the starry sky and planets. The soul of the universe, says Plato, is a being intermediate between pure reason (spirit) and material beings; it contains all the elements of numbers and sizes; it is the repository of mathematical laws that manifest themselves in the harmonious movement of the cosmos.” (Source: Plato on the Universe)

Plato's ideas explain the cosmological function not only of the dome with the opening, but of the entire building. Hence its name (according to Cassius Dio).

The flow of airy light through the oculus opens the way to heaven. In winter, when the sun was low in the sky, a column of light moved along the apses and the gilded dome - a kind of planetarium was obtained. There is a day of the year when the beam falls right in front of the entrance. Some claim that this happens on the birthday of Rome on April 21, others on the spring solstice (March 23), and still others on the summer equinox (June 23).

How many Pantheons were there in total?

Today's Pantheon is the third version of the temple built on this site!

• The first was built around 27 BC, but burned down.
• The second, built in the 1st century AD, was also burned.
• What we see today was built (or restored) in 125 by the Roman Emperor Hadrian.

Who built the Pantheon in Rome?

This explains the inscription above the entrance: "M · AGRIPPA · L · F · COS · TERTIVM · FECIT", which means: " Marcus Agrippa, son of Lucius, consul for the third time, built it" But Agrippa lived in the 1st century BC. And its creation date is considered to be 126, i.e. already 2nd century. How is this possible?

Emperor Hadrian never wrote his name on the architectural structures that he created during his reign, with the exception of the temple dedicated to Trajan, his father. Can this inscription serve as proof that the Roman Pantheon was built by Marcus Agrippa and only restored under Hadrian?

Still, historians answer the question “Who was the architect of the Pantheon in Rome?” answer: Apollodorus is supposed to be from Damascus. He was Trajan's favorite, the builder of the bridge across the Danube (over 1 km long), the Alconetar bridge in Spain, etc. But Adrian himself could also take part in the work. His architectural creations are well known: Hadrian's Villa, the Temple of Venus, Hadrian's Arch in Athens, etc.

Apollodorus mocked Hadrian's passion for the arts. The emperor did not forgive him for his offense. He exiled the architect and, after being accused of fictitious crimes, sentenced him to death.

Architecture of the Pantheon in Rome, dimensions of the dome and construction method

Dimensions of the Pantheon dome:

• diameter - 43 meters,
• height from the base of the dome - 22 meters above its base,
• oculus (hole) - 8.8 meters.

Originally, the eight front columns of the porch were of gray marble, the four interior ones were of red. In the 17th century, three corner columns collapsed and were replaced by two columns from the Baths of Nero and a column from the Villa of Domitian.

To enter the temple you need to go down the steps. But initially there were 4 steps up to the entrance! Centuries-old layers have swallowed up not only these steps, but the floor level turned out to be even lower than the ground.

The height of the Pantheon in Rome is 43 meters. Architectural style - .

Who is buried in the Pantheon in Rome

When the temple was transferred to the Christian Church, the remains of Christian martyrs buried in the catacombs were transferred here.

The Pantheon also became the tomb of important people in Italian history. Here lie the ashes of kings Victor Emmanuel II and Umberto I, as well as the famous Renaissance artist Raphael and his bride.

Raphael's tomb in the Pantheon and the love triangle

Raphael became engaged to Maria, the niece of a powerful cardinal, in 1514. But he postponed marriage for six years. During this period, he had a passionate affair with the daughter of a local baker. Maria did not survive the betrayal. Soon after her, Raphael died. He was 37 years old.

Pantheon in Rome: 7 interesting facts

Any facts about the history of the construction and life of this ancient building are interesting. You have already learned about many of them. Let's list them.

1. The only temple from ancient times that has survived unchanged to this day; his age is confirmed by the floor level (below the ground).
2. The modern Pantheon in Rome stands on the site of a burnt temple of the same name, built by Marcus Agrippa 2 centuries earlier.
3. Experts cannot decipher the method of constructing the dome of the Pantheon, so there are many versions (including “alien”).
4. The Pantheon dome is the largest unreinforced concrete dome in the world for 2 thousand years.
5. The architecture of the Pantheon embodies the ideas of Plato's philosophical school and symbolizes the Universe created by the One Divine Principle.
6. The tomb of the world famous Renaissance artist Raphael is located in the Pantheon.
7. Since 609 AD, Catholic services have been held there every day.

Pantheon in Rome: history of alterations

Another interesting fact is the entire history of alterations of an architectural monument. Although the size and shape of the building remained unchanged, the ancient Romans still saw it differently. The bronze quadriga and sculptural groups that decorated the temple disappeared. The outer walls of the temple were lined with marble, fragments of which are kept in the British Museum. And the interior of the temple looked somewhat different: it was decorated with a golden dome, gilded doors and statues of ancient Roman gods. Now there is a Christian altar, frescoes of saints and other symbols of faith.

In 1270, a Romanesque bell tower was added above the portico, which was demolished by order of Pope Urban VIII in the 17th century. Along with it, the bronze sculptures that decorated the façade were also removed. The bronze was melted down for the cannons of Castel Sant'Angelo in Rome and for the manufacture of the screw columns of the altar.