Pantheon (also known as Santa Maria della Rotonda) is the best preserved building from the ancient period that survived to our times almost untouched.
The first known temple constructed in one part of Campo Marzio was projected and founded by Marcus Agrippa between 27 and 25 BC. Its shape was rectangular and it was surrounded by porticos. Also in that period the temple obtained its Greek name – Pantheon – that means the temple dedicated to all gods even if some historians say that it was dedicated only to the most important of them. The first Pantheon was destroyed by a fire – probably in 80 or 110 AD.
Some years later Hadrian who was also fond of architecture projected himself a new temple that obtained the round shape. It is 43,30 meters wide and 43,30 high so a sphere of these dimensions could be put inside the monument.
When you stay in front of the ancient temple you can see the traditional pronaos with 16 monolihte columns that were made of Egyptian granite which are surmounted by the architrave with the inscription: MAGRIPPALFCOSTTERTIUMFECIT – that simply means – Marcus Agrippa, Lucius’ son, did it in his third consulate. The letters, unfortunately, are not original but they have been put exactly where the ancient ones had been collocated almost 1900 years ago.
There were many gilted bronze decorations outside and inside the Pantheon. The pope Urban VIII decided to use them for San Peter’s Basilique – so these were melted and used by Bernini for his famous Confession that is still above San Peter’s Tomb. Bernini projected also two towers on the left and right of the architrave but those funny towers didn’t have much success as they were nominated by witty Roman crowd: donkey’s ears and soon they were destroyed.
There is a huge gateway leading to the interior of the Pantheon.
Once inside you can admire a pure beauty – you can see the round shape of the temple, niches, columns and lisenas – the historians say they were filled with statues dedicated to gods and goddesses – and the best preserved ancient cupola that is a real masterpiece – its diameter is still of 43,30 meters and in its center there is a big uncovered hole of 9 meters – so it means that when it is raining in Rome it is raining also inside the temple. The central part of the floor was profiled and, moreover, there are little holes there that gather the water so you will not find flood entering the Pantheon.
There are different tombs in this ancient temple. You can find there Rafael’s tomb – it is said the famous painter chose himself the place of his eternal rest – during the longest day of a year the very last ray of the sun lies exactly on his tomb!
Another famous person who was buried there was the architect Baldassare Peruzzi who died in 1536.
At the end of the 19th century the Pantheon became the place where Italians kings started to be buried – the first one buried there was Vittorio Emmanuele II, the first Italian king, who died in 1878, in 1900 there was buried his son Umberto I, and in 1928 – queen Margherita, his son’s wife.
The second name of the monument – Santa Maria Rotonda – is the name of the church that was consecrated there in 608 AD. The history is quite simple. The Roman Emperor Focas gave it to the pope Bonifacio IV. The pope changed the name of the temple, moved remains of some Christian martyrs from the catacombes, proclamed the All Saints’ Feast that we celebrate also nowadays. And what about the emperor? He obtained a big column on the Forum Romanum founded by the pope – the column still exists and you can find it not so far away from the Septimus Sever Arch.
