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The Pantheon Research Paper

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The Architectural Significance of the Pantheon
The Pantheon is a magnificent temple that was built during ancient roman times and still stands today. The design of the Pantheon and the significance of it are directly related to a sun dial and understanding the way the sun works with the structure. It was originally built by Agrippa around 27 BC but was partially destroyed by a fire. During Hadrian’s reign, he rebuilt the Pantheon enhancing its architecture along with its meaning. This temple was dedicated to all the Gods of Rome and used as a place to worship them. Hadrian also held judicial court in the temple at times. “The Pantheon became a church—specifically, a station church, where the pope would hold special masses during Lent, the …show more content…

It begins at the portico with 40 foot tall columns of monolithic Corinthian style. From the portico you enter the rotunda, which has a marble floor and gives you the sight of the admirable oculus or opening at the top of the dome. “The dome’s coffers (inset panels) are divided into 28 sections, equaling the number of large columns below. 28 is a ‘perfect number,’ a whole number whose summed factors equal it (thus, 1 + 2 + 4 + 7 + 14 = 28). Only four perfect numbers were known in antiquity (6, 28, 496, and 8128) and they were sometimes held to have mystical, religious meaning in connection with cosmos” (Ranogajec). The natural cycle of the moon around the earth happens in 28 days, this is an example of a natural event related to cosmos that happens in a perfect number. “Until 1958, its dome was the biggest concrete span ever built” (McGee). Round architectural buildings were not uncommon in Rome, however nothing this massive had ever been …show more content…

One reason for this is the walls of the Pantheon reach up to 20ft thick making it impossible for windows. The specific construction of the Pantheon also made it impossible for light to enter at the entrance when the front doors opened. “No direct sunlight can enter from the door in the course of the whole year, owing to the northward orientation of the entrance doorway” (Hannah). This was unusual for roman temples, as they normally were set to face the south so the sun could illuminate the temples year round. “One explanation of the northern orientation is that the project of the building was to some extent inspired by a particular type of sundial, which captured the sunlight within a shadowy interior” (Harris). With the Romans giving great significance to the sun and the detailed position and measurements made in building the Pantheon, researchers have made many findings to give reason that the Pantheon was some form of a sun dial or astronomical instrument. “At the autumn equinox [September 22n d], the spot of sunlight touches the interior springing of the upper hemisphere. Then at winter solstice [December 22nd] the spot of sunlight moves up to a maximum height in the roof over the entrance. Thereafter, it moves down, touching again the base of the dome at the spring equinox [March 21st]. From the summer solstice [June 21st] the beam “turns back”, re-crossing the entrance between the end of August and the

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