The Pantheon in Rome - for novice travelers and everyone else. Pantheon in Rome: history, interesting facts, photos, how to visit When was the Pantheon built in Rome

Pantheon - famous temple of all the gods in Rome, one of the iconic monuments of the Eternal City, of worldwide significance, and one of the most mysterious structures on our Planet. This is the best preserved architectural creation Ancient Rome, 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 pagan temple It 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 pagan temples 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 by 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 more less years, since the information in the surviving documents is fragmentary, a clear line of existence of this monument over the centuries cannot be traced...

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 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 St. Anastasio, St. Agnes, Madonna del Cacco, St. Eracio, St. Nicholas, the sculpture “Coronation of the Virgin,” as well as a group sculpture of St. Anne and Holy Mother of God. 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 story changes by 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 peace. 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.

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 outstanding engineering achievement 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 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.”

(Italian Pantheon) is a historical and architectural monument of Ancient Rome. Originally known as antique Temple of all Gods, however, after the fall of the Roman Empire it was consecrated as the Christian Church of St. Mary and the Martyrs.

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Pantheon of Agrippa

Pantheon of Agrippa

The first building of the Pantheon was built in 27–25 BC. Its name comes from two Greek words: “pan” - “all” and “theon” - “divine”. It was the "Temple of All Gods", dedicated to the main Roman gods (Neptune, Jupiter, Mars, Venus, Pluto, Mercury and Saturn). The construction was supervised by the consul Marcus Agrippa, friend and son-in-law of Emperor Augustus. Agrippa's Pantheon faced south and had a rectangular shape. The walls were made of travertine blocks lined with marble slabs. On the pediment of the building, in bronze letters, was laid out the inscription “M. Agrippa L F cos Tertium Fecit" (“Marcus Agrippa, son of Lucius, elected consul for the third time, erected this”). The façade was decorated with statues and caryatids. Pliny left the following words about the attraction: “The caryatids on the columns of the temple are extremely beautiful, and the capitals of these columns are made of Syracuse copper.”

Agrippa's Pantheon was surrounded small area, paved with travertine slabs. On the opposite side of the square was the Temple of Neptune. The first Pantheon was destroyed during a three-day fire in 80 AD, but along with other temples it was completely rebuilt during the restoration work of Emperor Domitian. Its ruins are now located at a depth of 2.5 meters.

Construction of the modern Pantheon (Rome)

The Pantheon of Agrippa, once again destroyed during the reign of Trajan (it was struck by lightning), was completely rebuilt by Emperor Hadrian, who wrote in his memoirs: “I wanted this sanctuary of all gods to represent the globe and the celestial sphere.” Therefore, Hadrian's Pantheon became virtually a new building.

The markings on the bricks of the Pantheon, found as a result of research, indicate the period of 115-127, when the construction of the structure was supposedly carried out according to the design of the famous architect of that time, Apollodorus of Damascus. He designed and built many buildings and structures in Rome. For example, Baths of Trajan, Arc de Triomphe Trajan and Trajan's port in Ostia. Apollodorus continued to work after the death of Trajan, when Hadrian became emperor.

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Pantheon architecture

According to the project of Apollodorus, the Pantheon was oriented to the north, and its size was significantly increased. The structure was erected on a podium, to which 8 steps led. Gradually, the level of the ground around the Pantheon increased, and now it is located even in a shallow depression.

The structure of the temple has a cylindrical shape, representing a round rotunda. The height of the dome from the floor is equal to its diameter (43 meters), that is, the internal space of the temple can accommodate a full sphere - an ideal shape symbolizing the image of the Universe. The architectural appearance of the Pantheon embodied the Romans' ideas about the universe. The dome of the temple represents the vault of heaven, illuminated by the main celestial body - the Sun. The dome's ceiling is coffered and was originally gilded. Light penetrates through " Eye of the Pantheon"(oculus) - a single round hole with a diameter of 8.5 meters in the center of the vault. Every year on June 21 (the summer equinox), at noon, the sun passes through the Eye of the Pantheon and illuminates everyone who enters the main door of the temple with a beam of light. The floor is designed slightly convex, which helps drain rainwater into special holes that are part of complex system underground drains.

The walls, more than six meters thick, form a complex and well-designed structure that helps support the high dome. The composition of the concrete from which the walls were built varies depending on the height. The lower tier consists of concrete with travertine chips, followed by belts with lighter tuff or pumice fillers.

Facade The Pantheon is formed by a massive portico with a pediment. The portico is paved with slabs of colored marble arranged in a pattern of circles and squares, and includes 16 Corinthian granite columns with white marble capitals. The columns, 14 meters high, support a marble entablature and a triangular pediment on which is an inscription from the old Pantheon of Agrippa. In the space under the triangular pediment, holes for attaching decorative bronze trim are visible. Presumably, a bronze eagle with outstretched wings was attached here, holding an oak wreath in its beak, a symbol of power.

Gable The building was also decorated with bronze figures, statues and decorative elements, presumably made by Diogenes of Athens. Subsequently, by order of Pope Urban VIII, all the bronze decorations from the facade were used by the architect Bernini in the construction of St. Peter's Basilica. Such a barbaric act served as a reason for the libel that was famous at that time: “What the barbarians did not do, the Barberini family did” (“quod non fecerunt barbari - fecerunt Barberini”).

Pronaos(the passage or front hall of the Pantheon) connects the portico with the round hall. The outer walls of the pronaos are partly lined with marble blocks, partly covered with marble cladding. The pronaos is rectangular in shape and has three rows of Corinthian columns, eight of gray granite in the front row and eight of red. The pronaos contained statues of Emperor Augustus and Agrippa.

Large bronze doors, presumably preserved from ancient times and restored in the 16th century, lead to the round hall of the Pantheon. Its walls inside are covered with slabs of colored marble. On the lower level there are seven large niches, alternately trapezoidal and rounded. The niches are dedicated to the five planets that the Romans knew about, as well as to the luminaries - the Sun and the Moon. On the upper level above these niches there are rooms accessible through an external gallery. Previously, the Pantheon contained statues of seven gods, which were later replaced by statues of saints. These were statues of the most revered gods of Roman mythology (Neptune, Jupiter, Mars, Venus, Pluto, Mercury and Saturn).

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History of the Pantheon after the fall of the Roman Empire

The Pantheon was saved from destruction in the early Middle Ages, thanks to the fact that in 608 the Byzantine Emperor Phocas donated it to Pope Boniface IV, who turned the building into a church. The following year, the Pantheon was solemnly consecrated as the Church of St. Mary and the Martyrs (Santa Maria ad Martires). The name was given in honor of the relics of Christian martyrs, which were transported from the catacombs of Rome to the Pantheon. However, in 655, Constans II, Emperor of Constantinople, during a visit to Rome, removed some bronze decorations and gilded tiles from the temple. Only at the beginning of the 8th century, during the reign of Pope Gregory III, the building was covered with a lead roof. Until the 14th century, the Pantheon was repeatedly abandoned (for example, during the stay of the popes in Avignon). In the years 1378-1417, the temple became a fortress in the struggle between the Roman families of Colonna and Orsini.

Immediately after the temple was converted into a church, all objects associated with the pagan cult were destroyed, and statues of Christian saints and paintings of biblical subjects appeared in their place. The Pantheon now has an altar and an apse commissioned by Pope Clement XI and designed by Alessandro Specchi. In the apse there is a copy of the Byzantine icon of the Madonna. The original icon is now in the Vatican. In 1840, a choir designed by Luigi Poletti was added.

Inside the main hall there are eight niches, one of which is the entrance, and in the others there are seven statues of saints: St. Anastasio, St. Agnes, Madonna del Cacco, St. Eracio, St. Nicholas, the Coronation of the Virgin sculpture, as well as a group sculpture of St. Anne and Holy Mother of God.

The walls in niches and chapels are painted with frescoes. The most famous are: “The Annunciation” by Melozzi da Forli, “Saint Lawrence and Saint Agnes” by Clement Maioli, “The Adoration of the Shepherds” by Francesco Cozza, as well as “The Adoration of the Magi” and “The Descent of the Holy Spirit” by Pietro Labrusi.

Burials in the Pantheon (Rome)

Starting from the Renaissance, the Pantheon, like all churches, began to arrange burials of outstanding people of their time. In particular, many famous artists, sculptors and musicians are buried here: painters Perino del Vaga, Annibale Carracci, Taddeo Zuccari, Giovanni da Udine, Rafael Santi and his bride Maria Bibbiena, architect Baldassare Peruzzi, sculptor Flaminio Vacca, musician Arcangelo Corelli.

There are also tombs of crowned persons from the Savoy dynasty. One of the first to be buried in the Pantheon was the first king of united Italy, Victor Emmanuel II of Savoy, a great fighter for the unity of his country, as evidenced by the inscription on his tombstone: “PADRE DELLA PATRIA” (Father of the Fatherland). Also here is the tomb of his son and successor, King Umberto I with his wife Margaret. The king was shot by a monarchist in 1900, and Margarita died 36 years later. The Royal Tombs are guarded by volunteers from the National Institute of Honorary Guard, founded in 1878.

The Pantheon is one of the few buildings of Antiquity that has been preserved in a condition that gives us a complete picture of the monumental architecture of Ancient Rome. Despite all the vicissitudes that have befallen over the past centuries, the Pantheon today remains a symbol of the greatness of the Roman Empire.

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Without exaggeration, the Roman Pantheon is one of the most recognizable symbols of the Eternal City. The geometric perfection of proportions and the amazing dome of this building, the very creation of which is covered in amazing legends, are a vivid reminder of the architecture of the great Roman Empire in historical center modern Rome. Most eloquent of all was the reaction of Michelangelo, who, upon seeing this miracle for the first time, compared the creation of the Pantheon with the work of angels, not people.

1. When and by whom was the Roman Pantheon built?

Roman legend says that once on the site of the Pantheon there was a temple dedicated to Romulus, the legendary founder and first king of Rome, and it was from this place that he ascended to heaven. And there were three temples in total with the code name “Pantheon”.

Construction of the first began in 27 BC. by order Mark of Agrippa- commander, son-in-law and associate of Emperor Octavian Augustus. Many people mistakenly believe that Agrippa was the builder of the Pantheon because of the inscription preserved on the pediment: "M. AGRIPPA L F COS TERTIVM FECIT»(“Marcus Agrippa, son of Lucius, elected consul for the third time, erected this”), but the building he built wasdestroyed during a great fire in 80 AD. The Pantheon was rebuiltunder Emperor Domitian, but this building did not last long.

And only for the third time, under Emperor Hadrian in 118-126. AD, managed to build that grandiose temple that has been standing for 1900 years. The façade of the building, built under Marcus Agrippa, has been preserved, as has the inscription with his name. A pThe design of the third version of the Pantheon is attributed to Apollodorus of Damascus, the famous Greek architect and engineer, author of Trajan's Column and Forum.

2. Temple of all gods

Pantheon is a group of gods belonging to one or another religion or mythology (from the Greek πάντες - everything and θεός - god). According to one version, in pagan times the Pantheon temple featured all the main deities of the ancient Romans. In it, in a circle, there were altars of Mars, Venus, Saturn, Jupiter and Juno. The Romans offered gifts and ritual sacrifices to the gods to gain their support and favor.

3. The largest unreinforced concrete dome in the world

The uniqueness of the Pantheon is in its dome, who with his gigantic size still boggles the mind.For its time, it was a great achievement of architectural thought, a real breakthrough in the field of construction and engineering.

It was only more than 1,300 years later, when Brunelleschi built the dome of the Duomo in Florence, that the diameter of the dome of the Pantheon was surpassed. And deven in the 21st century, with all its technology, the dome of the Pantheon remains the largest unreinforced concrete dome in the world!

Comparison of internal diameters of domes:

• St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican (XVI-XVII centuries) - 41.47 meters
• Pantheon in Rome (2nd century AD) - 43.3 meters
• Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence (XIII-XV centuries) - 44 meters

Once in the Pantheon, it is difficult to imagine that such a huge dome rests only on the walls (although, for a moment, they are about 6 meters thick). The fact is that ancient Roman engineers used concrete in combination with lighter materials- tuff and pumice, and gradually reduced the weight and thickness of the structure closer to the center. In addition, these materials prevent the formation of microcracks.

For the 2nd century. AD the construction of the giant dome of the Pantheon was a real miracle! As the legend says, the emperor ordered the entire space of the temple to be filled from the inside with earth mixed with gold coins. When construction was completed, the townspeople, in search of gold coins, cleared the Pantheon from the ground in a matter of hours. A similar legend is told about the dome Duomo in Florence, during the construction of which it is believed that Brunelleschi was inspired by the dome of the ancient Roman Pantheon.

4. Oculus - a mysterious round hole in the dome of the Pantheon

Exactly in the center of the dome of the Pantheon is the oculus (Latin oculus - eye) - the only opening through which sunlight enters the Pantheon(there are no other windows in the building). Its diameter is 9 meters.

On April 21, the birthday of Rome, sunlight through the oculus shines directly on the doorway, effectively presenting the appearance of the emperor in front of the crowd.In the Middle Ages, there were legends that a strange round hole in the dome was pierced by evil spirits. G The characters in Dan Brown's book are the oculus of the Pantheonconsidered to be that same “devil’s hole” pointing to one of the altars of the insidious Illuminati.

Main question, which arises when looking at the oculus: what happens when it rains? Through the oculus, water flows into the building, but does not flood it - in this case, drains are provided in the floor.

And the most impressive “rain”» - rain of rose petals (“La pioggia di petali di rose”)- can be seen on the Day of the Descent of the Holy Spirit, which is celebrated on the 50th day after Easter (that is, this date is different every year, follow the Catholic calendar). Firefighters climb onto the dome of the Pantheon and throw out thousands of rose petals from the oculus.

On this day The priests' vestments are red, like the color of the petals, which recalls the “tongues of fire” of the Holy Spirit that descended on the apostles.This is an ancient tradition dating back to the early Christians, when the red rose was one of the symbols of the Holy Spirit and the blood shed by the Savior to atone for the sins of mankind.

5. The best preserved monument of ancient architecture

The Pantheon is considered one of the best-preserved monuments of ancient architecture, which has practically not been rebuilt or changed since the times of the Roman Empire. The preservation of the Pantheon is largely due to the simple fact that it was promptly placed at the disposal of the church, which adapted it to its needs.

The interior has preserved details from ancient times, such as the magnificent marble floor. However, great damage to the decoration of the temple was caused by Pope Urban VIII Barberini, who used bronze decorations Pantheon for the cannons of the Castel Sant'Angelo. His actions earned him a caustic epigram:“Quod no fecerunt Barbari, fecerunt Barberini” (“What the barbarians did not do, Barberini did”).

6. The Roman Pantheon is a Christian church

The Byzantine Emperor Phocas handed over the Pantheon to Pope Boniface IV, and on May 13, 609, the temple of all gods ceased to be pagan. It was consecrated as a ChristianChurch of St. Mary and Martyrs (Basilica di Santa Maria ad Martyres).

Some time the day of the consecration of the PantheonMay 13 was even celebrated as All Saints' Day, until in the middle of the 8th century the holiday was moved to the day when one of the chapels of St. Peter's Basilica was consecrated.

Today Pantheon - active Christian church with an altar, crosses, frescoes and icons, figures of angels and saints. Divine services are held here and silence is requested, as in any other sacred place. However, most people know St Mary's and Martyrs' Church by its old name“Pantheon”, and Christian attributes do not overshadow the ancient essence of this grandiose building.

7. Who is buried in the Roman Pantheon

Tomb of Raphael Santi in the Pantheon

The Pantheon is not only a temple, but also a mausoleum. It is in the Pantheon that the tomb of the famous artist is located Rafael Santi, which is known to many. But not everyone knows that Maria Bibbiena, his bride, is buried next to Raphael. This is actually a tragic story because Rafael's heart was given to another woman (and he may even have secretly married her). The artist, as best he could, delayed his marriage to the unloved niece of his friend and patron, the powerful Cardinal Bibbien, until she died without waiting for the wedding. IronicallyRaphael died shortly after her, aged only 37.

Other famous people buried in the Pantheon include:

• painter Annibale Carracci,
• composer Arcangelo Corelli,
• first king of a united Italy, Victor Emmanuel II
• his son Umberto I together with his wife Margherita, who gave the name to the most popular in the world.

8. Fountain and Egyptian obelisk in front of the Pantheon

Opposite the Pantheon in Piazza della Rotonda there is a beautiful fountain (La Fontana di piazza della Rotonda). It was designed in 1575 the famous architect Giacomo della Porta, who completed the construction of the dome of St. Peter, and the implementation of his plan was entrusted to Leonardo Sormani.

In 1711, on the initiative of Pope Clement XI, the fountain was restored and modified. A pedestal appeared, decorated with figures of four dolphins and the coat of arms of Clement XI. An Egyptian obelisk of Pharaoh Ramses II was installed on the pedestal, which, like other obelisks in Rome, served as a kind of GPS marker for pilgrims of that time. At the top of the obelisk you can see a cross and a bronze star - one of the symbols of the same Clement XI.

In the 19th century, the marble sculptures that decorated the fountain were replaced with copies (the originals can be viewed in Museum of Rome in Piazza San Pantaleo).

9. Buildings inspired by the Pantheon

Pantheon in Paris

In subsequent centuries, builders were guided by the architectural grandeur of the Pantheon, copying and repeating it in their works. Z the famous giant dome of the Pantheon served role model for architects of later times: Filippo Brunelleschi designed the dome of the Church of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence, and Michelangelo designed the dome of St. Peter's Basilica in .

The Paris Pantheon (today the tomb of France's great men) not only bears the same name as the original Pantheon, but is clearly inspired by the architecture of this outstanding monument of ancient Roman architecture. The same can be said about the numerous American Capitols, where government structures are located.

10. Rules for visiting and opening hours of the Pantheon

Until recently, entry to the Roman Pantheon was free and open to everyone. From May 2018, entrance to the Pantheon is planned to be paid, the cost will be 2 euros.

As when visiting any other temple, when visiting the Pantheon you must adhere to the dress code (no bare shoulders or knees, no provocative appearance) and maintain silence, do not talk loudly or laugh.

Opening hours (Monday-Saturday):

• 9:00 - 19:15

Opening hours (Sunday):

• 9:00 - 17:45

Holidays:

• 9:00 - 12:45

Please note that the Pantheon is closed on the following days:

• 1st of January
• 1st of May
• December 25

Tourists are not allowed during services (holidays: 10.30, Saturday: 17.00).

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. That's why interior decoration differs from the outside 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 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 has become a place where the bodies of many are buried famous people, among whom the first to be buried was the master of painting Raphael, 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. IN holidays 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.