Posts Tagged "The Pantheon"

The Pantheon, Rome, Italy

Posted by Chris on Jun 23, 2011 in Italy | 0 comments

Description: The Emperor Hadrian commissioned the Pantheon to be built in 118AD. It was a replacement for another Pantheon that burnt down in 80AD. The dome, which is a perfect sphere, was the largest in the world for 1300 years! It is open at the top, known as an oculus, with a diameter of 7.8 meters (26 ½ feet). The building was originally a temple dedicated to the pantheon of Gods, but its role changed over the years. Today it serves as a final resting place for kings and famous Italians like the Renaissance painter, Raphael. To account for the massive weight the materials from the dome...