Pantheon

The word “Pantheon” in Greek means “temple of all gods,” and it was built during the reign of Emperor Augustus for his close friend and military leader, Marcus Agrippa.

The Pantheon is just one part of his plan to build three structures in that part of the city: the Baths of Agrippa, the Basilica Neptunus, and the Pantheon. This was around 20 BCE.

Later, the Pantheon was burned and destroyed during a great fire that engulfed Rome around 80 CE. Reconstruction began around 114 CE during the reign of Emperor Trajan and was completed during the time of Emperor Hadrian, who preserved the original inscription on the building:

“M·AGRIPPA·L·F·COS·TERTIVM·FECIT”

in honor of its first creator, Marcus Agrippa. This inscription in Latin means “Marcus Agrippa, son of Lucius, made [this building] when he was consul for the third time.”

Later, in 609 CE, Pope Boniface IV received this building as a gift from Byzantine Emperor Phocas and converted it into a Catholic church dedicated to St. Mary and the Martyrs on May 13. This event allowed the temple to survive during the early Middle Ages when all other ancient buildings were mostly plundered and demolished.

Despite the transformation of the Pantheon into a church, Byzantine Emperor Constans II, who visited Rome in July 663, looted and took with him to Constantinople everything of value, including the church’s bronze roof. Over the centuries, looting and destruction continued, with even marble stripped from the facade and some decorations from the columns ending up in various museums.

Throughout its long history, the Pantheon has been the final resting place for some significant historical figures, including kings of Italy: Victor Emmanuel II and Umberto I, as well as Queen Umberta, Margarita. The famous painter Raphael is also buried in the temple.

Originally, the building was approached by stairs, but later construction raised the ground level, eliminating them. This architectural detail, along with the adaptation of the design due to the lack of columns, highlights the complexity of construction and the adaptability of architects in antiquity. The influence of the Pantheon on later architecture is significant, inspiring numerous architects, such as Brunelleschi, with its grand proportions and innovative construction, and it remains one of the most famous architectural achievements of the ancient world.