It Is, As It Were, The Visible Image Of The Universe

The Pantheon, meaning “every god” in Greek, is one of the greatest works of architecture in Rome, and frankly, in the entire world.  Built around 126 AD, the Pantheon is the best-preserved ancient building in the city. This is due in large part to the fact that it was turned into a church in 609 AD after being presented to Pope Boniface IV, so its repairs and upkeep has been immensely thorough.

The building’s spiritual history is quite interesting. Historians know it was a pagan temple before being turned into a church; however, no one truly knows which god was worshiped here. This confusion is partially blamed on the building’s name. Because it pulls from the Greek word meaning “every god”, there is no way to pinpoint which god or gods were worshiped to. The Pantheon was also used as a tomb, and was made the final resting place for the famous Renaissance painter Raphael and his fiancée, Maria, as well as the Italian kings Vittorio Emanuele II and Umberto I.

Walking in, many visiting tourists feel a sense of calmness, frequently related to the building’s perfect proportions; the dome’s height from the floor is equal to its diameter. Additionally, its oculus, a 9-meter hole in the center of the dome, lets in daylight making it easy to see the immeasurably spiritual significance this building had in its ancient years.

The Pantheon’s architecture has inspired a multitude of Renaissance and contemporary architects. Brunelleschi and Michelangelo both drew from the Pantheon to design the domes of the Duomo of Florence and St. Peter’s Basilica. Furthermore, the Jefferson Memorial, Low Memorial Library, National Gallery of Art, US Capitol, and Pantheon in Paris were all inspired by the Pantheon.