The best-preserved and most beautifully proportioned of Rome's ancient
monuments, the Pantheon has become an emblem of the city. The Pantheon
is one of the great spiritual buildings of the world. It was built by Hadrian
as a Roman temple to the gods around the year 125 AD although it is thought
that an even older temple, built by Agrippa, once stood on this site. It
was later consecrated as a Catholic Church in 608. It was this Christianising
of the building which ensured that it continued to be so well preserved
over the centuries.
Through great bronze doors, one enters a great circular room. The interior
volume is a cylinder above which rises the hemispherical dome. Opposite
the door is a recessed semicircular apse, and on each side are three additional
recesses, alternately rectangular and semicircular, separated from the
space under the dome by paired monolithic columns. In the centre of the
dome is an unglazed oculus, which, apart from the bronze doors, is the
only source for natural light. It is also open to the elements and allows
rain to enter because it is unglazed. This is more than compensated for
by the striking light patterns made by the sun as it passes over the open
oculus.
One can imagine how this circular room would once have been adorned with
various pagan deities. Now the focal point of interest is the tomb of Raphael.
Most astonishing of all are the large brass doors, which belonged to the
original Roman building.
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