{"id":9542,"date":"2022-01-27T11:43:17","date_gmt":"2022-01-27T11:43:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ulysses.travel\/pantheon-rome\/"},"modified":"2024-09-11T13:05:00","modified_gmt":"2024-09-11T13:05:00","slug":"pantheon-rome","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ulysses.travel\/en\/pantheon-rome\/","title":{"rendered":"The Pantheon in Rome"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Located in the heart of Rome’s historic center, the Pantheon is undeniably one of the most famous monuments in the “Eternal City.” Why? This architectural masterpiece is the best-preserved ancient building in the capital.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Follow the guide!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Pro tip:<\/strong> To save time and ensure you don’t miss a thing, consider this skip-the-line ticket + audio guide (available in several languages).<\/a><\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Insider<\/strong> Tips<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Top tip:<\/strong> Free guided city tour<\/a> (in English)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Accommodations:<\/strong> all our tips recommendations <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plan your stay:<\/strong> the complete guide to Rome<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Visiting Rome with children:<\/strong> all our tips<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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A Brief History of the Pantheon of Rome<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Origins of the Pantheon<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Pantheon of Agrippa<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The history of the Pantheon begins in 27 BC when the first version of the building was constructed on the orders of Consul Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, a close advisor to Emperor Augustus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, Agrippa’s Pantheon did not stand the test of time. It was damaged by a fire in 80 AD and then another in 110 AD. Today, very little remains of this original construction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Pantheon of Hadrian<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Between 118 and 125 AD, Emperor Hadrian had the Pantheon entirely rebuilt according to a new plan. It is this second version of the temple that has survived almost intact to the present day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hadrian’s Pantheon is an architectural marvel and a testament to the incredible skill of Roman builders. Its dome, which remains the largest unreinforced concrete dome in the world, continues to amaze experts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite his contributions, Emperor Hadrian acknowledged Agrippa’s legacy by inscribing Agrippa’s name on the temple’s entrance portico: M.AGRIPPA.L.F.COS.TERTIVM.FECIT (“Marcus Agrippa, son of Lucius, consul for the third time, built this”).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the identity of the architect responsible for the Pantheon’s construction remains unknown, speculation is rife. Apollodorus of Damascus, who designed Trajan’s Forum, Baths, and Markets, is a leading candidate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Pantheon<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A Temple to All Gods<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A quick etymology lesson: in Ancient Greek, the word \u03a0\u03ac\u03bd\u03b8\u03b5\u03b9\u03bf\u03bd (pantheion<\/em>) combines \u03c0\u1fb6\u03bd (pan<\/em>, “all”) and \u03b8\u03b5\u1fd6\u03bf\u03c2 (the\u00edos<\/em>, “divine”). The pantheon is literally the temple of all gods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From its inception, the Pantheon of Rome was dedicated to all Roman deities, particularly Mars (Ares) and Venus (Aphrodite), the mythical ancestors of the Julio-Claudian dynasty (the Gens Iulia<\/em>) to which Julius Caesar belonged. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

From Roman Temple to Catholic Church<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

By the late 4th<\/sup> century AD, pagan cults were banned in Rome: sacrifices were forbidden, as was visiting temples.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For nearly two centuries, the Pantheon was abandoned and looted, notably during the sack of Rome by the Visigoths in the 5th<\/sup> century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 608, the Byzantine Emperor Phocas gifted the ancient temple to Pope Boniface IV. The Pope consecrated the Pantheon as a Christian church,
and the ancient Roman temple became the Church of St. Mary and the Martyrs (Sancta Maria ad Martyres<\/em>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Inside<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A Burial Place<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Starting from the Renaissance, the Pantheon became a burial site for notable figures in Roman history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Pantheon houses:<\/p>\n\n\n\n