The Pantheon Of Rome : A Must-See Italian Tourist Attraction
by: JillianKammer |
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The Pantheon in Rome is a rare ancient building because it has resisted the decay of time so well. One reason it is such a treasure is that it is the only intact example of architecture of the time of that size, age and span. The ability of The Pantheon to hold up for centuries is no accident - rather, it reflects a genius of engineering skill.
The reasons the Pantheon is copied so often but never outdone is that it represents more sheer architecture genius than even modern buildings can boast. This is even more amazing considering the designers of this building did their work in 125 AD during the reign of the Roman Emperor Hadrian.
The basic design is one that is brilliantly simple, placing a round enclosure next to a rectangular entryway. The gateway to the Pantheon is built in the style of a Greek portico, using columns made of granite and finished off with a triangular pediment on top. The entrance is supported by three rows of 39 foot Corinthian columns. Eight of those supports are at the front and then there are two sets further in - each with four supports that lead you onward toward the central rotunda. So the rectangular section serves the function of joining the rotunda and the portico.
That design plan is deceptively simple but phenomenally effective.
For example, the massive dome of concrete that is on top of the round central component is of such elegant design and of such high quality of construction that anything less in the design of this dome would have collapsed under its own weight.
That dome is nothing short of massive. At 142 feet in diameter, the Pantheon dome is 46 feet larger than the dome over the White House. At the crown of the dome there is an opening known as the oculus that is 25 feet across. The fact that the dome does not compromise the building and continues to survive after 2000 year is in part due to the design of that oculus and the composition of the dome.
That oculus which is the opening at the top of the dome is one of the many elegant design features that have kept the Pantheon intact for so long. That simple 25 foot opening reduces the weight of the dome and the perfect ring of its circumference distributes the stress of the weight perfectly so it rests on the base without undue stress on any one support.
Another benefit of the oculus is that it lets in the natural sunlight to illuminate the beautifully designed interior of the building. The designers did anticipate that just as the sunlight comes in, so does the rain and the floor is balanced to permit run off of the water to side drains so a spring shower won't create undue danger or problems for visitors.
The way the weight of dome tapers from base to peak is yet another demonstration of the genius of the designers. Starting at 20 feet of thickness at the base of the dome, the structure tapers down to a mere 7.5 feet at the oculus. In addition the materials used in the dome are heavier at the base and lighter near the top. This is again a simple but powerful design decision that has helped the Pantheon stand as long as it has. And that genius is even more amazing when you consider that the design genius of the Pantheon was ignored by future designers for 1000 years before later generations began to understand the brilliance of that design.
The result is a building so stable that 2000 years since it was first built, the stability of the structure is rock solid. But that stability was designed and constructed without any modern tools or devices we associate with building today.
When you admire the sturdy and elegant materials used to create the Pantheon, keep in mind also that the engineers that built this marvel had to bring in everything that went into the construction by floating those materials in on the Tiber river. From the river, those materials were laboriously moved to the site using humans and animals pulling carts.
The huge bronze doors of the Pantheon have undergone a number of restorations over the years. But there has never been any serious structural repair needed or done to the Pantheon at any time in the history of the building. That record is even more amazing considering that the Pantheon was built on marsh land.
A good comparison in terms of amazing longevity of the Pantheon is the Leaning Tower of Pisa which seems to need virtually continuous effort to support and maintain that structure. Much of the reason for the troubles of that tower is the marshy ground under the construction. Another great building that was built at the same time as the Pantheon in Rome is the Parthenon in Greece and it is for all intents and purposes a wreck 2000 years after it was built.
In the eighth century the Roman Pantheon became a church, and it is a functioning house of worship down to modern times. Unlike other buildings of similar age, the Pantheon continues to be as much a working building as it was the day it opened.
Small wonder architects around the world love to model their designs after the Pantheon. Two very recognizable designs that reflect this admiration are the Thomas Jefferson Rotunda which is located at the University of Virginia and the Reading Room at the British Museum.
But it is always good to admire the original design on display in the Roman Pantheon.
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About the Author
Villa Borghese is one of the more popular tourist destinations you should visit while in Rome. Learn a little of its history and get some tips of what to see and do while visiting this popular spot in the Eternal City.
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