Visit The Pantheon In Rome To See One Of Its Most Well-Preserved Ancient Ruins

The Pantheon is a very well-preserved Roman temple that was commissioned by Marcus Agrippa in the reign of Augustus. It was built at the beginning of the Roman Empire following the collapse of the Roman Republic. Later it was rededicated as a Catholic church as "Basilica di Santa Maria ad Martyres."

The Pantheon is one of many ancient Roman ruins in Rome that are not the Colosseum. When in Greece, be sure to visit the confusingly similarly named Parthenon in the Acropolis in Athens. There are many interesting things to know about that remarkable building.

History of the Pantheon & Inscription

After the Battle of Actium in 31 BC Marcus Agrippa started a large building program. The Battle Of Actium was when Octavius Augusta defeated Mark Antony and Cleopatra. Agrippa's building program included the Baths of Agrippa, the Basilica of Neptune, and the Pantheon - these were perhaps built as his private temples.

Built: By Marcus Agrippa
Agrippa: Powerful General, Statesman, and Architect

It was actually Agrippa who won the Battle of Actium. He was a close friend and son-in-law of Augustus. He was a powerful Roman general, statesman, and architect and he helped Augustus make Rome a "city of marble". He wielded powers almost as great as those of Augusts and had veto power in the Senate. When he died there was over a month of mourning and his remains were placed in Augustus' own mausoleum.

It seems that most of the Pantheon was destroyed for some time with only the facade surviving. It is likely that much of the building seen today dates from the time of Trajan (that is four years after it was destroyed by fire seemingly for a second time).

It is possible that the original Agrippa's Pantheon was very different and perhaps was even oriented in a different direction.

Later in its history, the Pantheon was rebuilt by emperor Hadrian around 126 AD

The Pantheon bears the following inscription:

M·AGRIPPA·L·F·COS·TERTIVM·FECIT - this is an abbreviation of "M[arcus] Agrippa L[ucii] f[ilius] co[n]s[ul] tertium fecit," or in English "Marcus Agrippa, son of Lucius, made [this building] when consul for the third time." So nothing too deep or spiritual.

The Pantheon And Its Influence

The name "Pantheon" is from the Greek "Pantheion" meaning "common to all the gods". At first, the name may have been a nickname because of the statues of the many gods placed around the building or perhaps because its roof resembled the dome to the heavens. Some doubt that the Romans would have dedicated a temple to all the gods.

The cylindrical building sports a portico of large granite Corinthian columns and together with its distinct rotunda is a very beautiful example of Roman architecture. It has been enormously influential in Western architecture from the Renaissance on. There were even replicas of the Pantheon in America - like The Rotunda (New York) that once stood in City Hall Park in Lower Manhattan from 1818 to 1870.

Replica: Once Stood In City Hall Park NYC

Another building in the USA is The Rotunda (Virginia) that is located on The Lawn of the original grounds of the University of Virginia. Thomas Jefferson modeled it after the Pantheon of Rome and it was built from 1822 to 1826. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1966.

Visit: The Rotunda (Virginia)

A fun fact about the Pantheon. 2,000 years after it was built, it still claims the world's largest unreinforced concrete dome.

Visiting The Pantheon

As one visits Rome today, one will see how that most of the Ancient buildings in Roman are now mostly ruins. But the Pantheon is one of the best-preserved and is in good repair. Partly that is because it has been in near-continuous use throughout its history. In the 7th century, the Pantheon was used as a church.

Today two of the kings of Italy are buried there (Vittorio Emanuele II and Umberto I was well as his wife Queen Margherita).

It remains in service as a Catholic church to this day and masses are performed on Sundays and other holy days of obligation. As a Catholic church, entrance is free and there are no tickets from Monday to Friday. To visit the Pantheon on the weekends and public holidays, one must book the visit at least one in advance. As of the time of writing, visitors must have a valid Green Pass due to ongoing restrictions from the pandemic.

It is now one of Rome's most visited buildings being visited by over 6 million people annually.

Opening Hours: From 9 am to 7 pm (Last Entry 6:30 pm)
Days Open: All Days
Admission Fee: Free From Monday to Friday (Booking Required on the Weekends)