The Pantheon

What does the name mean?

Temple for all the gods

When was it built?

118-128 AD

Who first built the pantheon?

Marcus Agrippa

How many Pantheons have there been?

Three, including the current one

What are the dimensions?

56m (rotunda) x 44m

What materials is it made out of?

Marble, Concrete, Tufa, Travertine (limestone)

What type of artwork is it?

Temple/religious architecture

Who were the architects of the current pantheon?

Hadrian and Apollodorus

Where is it located?

Field of Mars, Rome / Modern Piazza della Rotunda

What is the content?

Large temple to all of the gods based on three distinct parts - portico, vestibule, rotunda

What is the purpose of this building?

Temple to honour the planetary gods, show the architectural skill of the architect/emperor Hadrian

What is a rotunda?

A cylindrical/round building, sometimes topped with a dome

Why is the dome of the Pantheon important?

It was the largest of its kind for 1800 years

What is the internal height of the dome?

43.20m, equal to the internal diameter

What is a vestibule?

Transitional space between the entrance of a building and its main area

What does the vestibule do for the Pantheon?

Provides extra support for the rotunda

What was the purpose of the porch?

To encourage entry from the front of the building only

What style of columns feature at the front of the Pantheon?

Corinthian columns

How many columns run across the front of the pantheon?

Eight (octastyle)

How wide is the space occupied by the columns across the porch?

33.5m

What style of columns feature on the sides of the vestibule?

Engaged corinthian pilasters

How many columns are on the porch, and what are they made of?

16, Egyptian granite

statues of which two people occupied the niches in the vestibule?

Augustus (right, looking straight on) and Agrippa (left)

What would have been depicted on the pediment that has now been lost?

An eagle

What does the text on the frieze say?

M·AGRIPPA·L·F·COS·TERTIVM·FECIT

What does the text on the frieze translate to?

Marcus Agrippa, son of Lucius, when he was consul for the third time built this

What material would the upper layers of the temple have been covered in, initially?

Stucco, painted white

Where did the statues of the planetary gods sit?

Extruding niches

What other architectural features sit in the walls?

Alcoves/Extradae

What is the domed ceiling decorated with?

Square coffers

What sits above the alcoves and niches, but below the coffers?

Square panels of marble veneer interspersed with rectangular shapes topped with pediments

What is the hole in the ceiling called?

Oculus

Why is the oculus so special, if it isn't the first of its kind?

It is the largest at 9m

what are the benefits of the oculus?

reduces weight of the ceiling, lets in natural light, acts as a sun dial (natural fx at parts of the year)

How does the dome stay up?

The dome acts as a rotated arch, compressing weight down onto the walls and foundations

Why doesn't the dome collapse from the weight?

the thickness of the building material decreases, and the hollow square coffers further help reduce weight

How many rows of coffers are there?

5