Notre Dame and Pantheon

Travelling is an experience that gives any individual an opportunity to learn new things in the entire world. My first visit to Rome gave me the experience to learn more about the Roman Pantheon. Roman Pantheon is one of the most preserved and influential buildings in the ancient Rome. I learned from my interviews with the management team of the building that it is a Roman temple dedicated to every god of pagan Rome.

From one of the brick stamps on the wall of the building, it is evident that the building must have been built and dedicated between the years A.D118 to 125. Pantheon was put up by Emperor Hadrian (AD 117-138). The building was aimed at replacing Augustus friends as well as the commander Marcus Agrippa’s Pantheon of 27B.

C (Stamper 45-6). The building had burnet to the ground in 80A.D. This is according to the information obtained from Pantheons management. One thing that stands distinct in Pantheon is the inscription above which has Latin writings on it. The writings were the original dedication by Marcus Agrippa.

The inscription in Latin reads: “M AGRIPPA. L.F COSTERIUM FECIT”.The interpretation in English reads “Marcus Agrippa son of Lucius, having been consul three times made it.” Every visitor is attracted to the Pantheon just as the case was to me. The building has thick brick walls and a large marble column.

Pantheon made a first glance impression to me as it does to other visitors too. In addition, for its time and age, the building is quite remarkable by virtue of its height being 43 meters above the ground. This building has remained to be the largest dome in the whole world by 1436 before the construction of the Florence Cathedral. Aother captivating feature of this building that I witnessed is the large opening at its top. The opening, oculus was the only source of light to the entire building. In addition, I was impressed by its front portico with three rows each having eight columns.

Each column has a diameter of about one and a half meter. The door is more captivating, it is made of bronze giving access to the cylindrical building. The diameter of the building is equal to the interior height of the building. The InteriorThe interior design and architect of the Roman Pantheon is an outstanding synthesis of practice and originality.

Initially Pantheon was the temple for all pagan Romans before being converted into a church in 609. At the moment, the Pantheon has in its interior tombs of the famous artists Raphael as well as several Italian Kings. The interior is given an ecclesiastic design which contrasts with its structural design. However, the marble floor features designs which consist of a series of geometric patterns. This gives it an ancient Roman architecture and origin. The architecture of the Pantheon is one of the most fascinating features.

The building has several structures compromising of a number of captivating arches. The arches are some of the architectural designs that kept other visitors and me wanting to know more about the building. The entire dome is supported by a number of arches that are horizontally positioned around it. According to the tour guides in the building, the Roman culture perfected the use of arches. Arches helped in the sustenance of the weight of their magnanimous structures. Interesting to note was the dessign of the roof.

Lighter materials were used in constructing the roof because of the heavy nature of Roman buildings. On the lowest level, the heaviest materials were used in the construction to support the weight of the building. Using lighter materials at the top according to our guide alleviated the weight of the done. Owing to this fact, the Pantheon was probably constructed using a complicated set up.

The set up put into use wooden scaffolding which seem to must have been costly. The coffers in the dome look elegant with likelihood that they must have been struck using a device from the floor. This building gives an extraordinary detail. In addition, the look of the building from the outside gives it a rectangular shape. The first small room at the entrance is what is rectangular. It is referred to as the cell.

The Rotunda is totally round. Before, the small entry room was round which would have been accessed using stair cases. This has now changed to be modern ground level.At the entrance of the building, the statues of Augustus and Agrippa stand in the apse at the edge of colonnaded side walkway of the foyer. The architect of the Pantheon is however not known. However, his work still remains to be adored.

From the architectural appearance of this building, we are all in apposition to get the general overview of Roman architecture. The marble finish of Pantheon that I saw in the interior was the major part that was added later. The current state of the Pantheon allows us to have glimpses of the amazing and dazzling world of the Roman architecture and design. In my view, the Pantheon would have been made golden to look like the heavenly specialty of all the gods that is evoked by the name Pantheon.