Pantheon, Rome

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• Built by Agrippa, the Pantheon in Rome was destroyed in the fire of AD 80, restored, burned again thirty years later, and was completely rebuilt between AD 118 and AD 128 by Emperor Hadrian, who retained the original inscription on the front. The oculus of the Pantheon in Rome is twenty-nine feet across and provides the only source of light. Just as there are seven niches around the floor, which may have held images of the seven planetary deities, so there are seven rings on the vault: the five coffered rings and the plain ring surrounding the oculus, which is the seventh circle. Within this circle is another, as both the diameter of the rotunda and its height are the same. In this is a representation of the universe, itself, in microcosm. The Pantheon escaped the depredations of the barbarians and was presented in AD 609 by the Byzantine emperor Phocas to the Pope who transformed the temple into a Catholic church. Of all the buildings of ancient Rome, the Pantheon is the best preserved, its masonry dome still the largest ever built and one of the greatest achievements of Roman engineering. When in Rome do not miss the opportunity to visit the Pantheon, it's FREE! Ciao from Rome Nancy Aiello http://www.nancyaiellorometour.com http://www.romecookingclass.com
• The description was provided by Nancy Aiello