Background
Pantheon and Parthenon have been among the exquisite and symbolic historical monuments that embody the strength and rise of the greatest empires. The two sites have existed for millennia, witnessing the rise and fall of various governments undergoing demolition and restrictions. Pantheon and Parthenon are examples of ancient monuments that carry the history throughout the centuries. However, while there are certain similarities between the temples, the monuments are different, starting from the purpose of the monuments and ending with the architecture and style.
Location
The first site, the Pantheon, is a Catholic church located in Rome, Italy, that was formerly a temple of the Roman Empire. Under Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa’s leadership, the ancient Pantheon was constructed between 27 and 25 BCE (Kneale 2019). The initial building was demolished in 80 C.E., and the current construction in Rome is the rebuilt version from 118 CE (Kneale 2019). It was rebuilt under the direction of the Roman emperor Hadrian, who replaced the ancient inscriptions on the façade (Kneale 2019). The Parthenon, it is a magnificent temple built between 450 and 430 B.C., during the zenith of the Greek Empire (Kissock 2018). This temple complex is attributed to the Greek goddess Athena and is located at the Acropolis in Athens.
Cultural Importance
The first noteworthy aspect is the cultural meaning of the monuments. The cultural meaning of Pantheon lies within its intention to be used as a public gathering place. To preside over official events, Hadrian would sit on a throne. The Pantheon was not always utilized as a temple since it did not possess the rectangular design of earlier temples, although being intended to symbolize all deities as its name implies (Kneale 2019). Through the reconstruction of this place, Hadrian wanted to offer the Roman citizens something that deserved to be the pride of the nation.
The Pantheon’s rotunda’s architecture served as a symbolism for the imperial might that inspired the public. The dome represents wholeness, purity, and immortality because there is neither a start nor an end. This was done to show how the Roman empire should be seen. The grandeur of the dome served to unite the observer with the Roman gods by reminding them of the continuation of the heavens (Calder 2021). The emperor would have seemed to be very powerful since the deities would have been watching over him as he held court beneath the dome. The floor’s array of geometric forms, and circles, would have represented the imperial order (Calder 2021). Additionally, the Pantheon’s construction within a relatively brief period would definitely have employed thousands of people.
In turn, while Parthenon was not a gathering place like Pantheon, it too served as a manifestation of the region’s prosperity. It was a hallmark of Athenian political and economic dominance in Greece in the 5th century (Kissock 2018). In order to establish Athens’ economic, governmental, and military supremacy over the rest of the country, Pericles and the municipality of Athens built the Parthenon (Kissock 2018). It was grander and more lavish than any other temple ever constructed on this land.
Religious Importance
The Pantheon also has religious meaning since it was built partly to worship the gods. Initially, statues of numerous gods and venerated rulers would have rested in the niches. One of the large niches, for instance, has an Augustus statue in it (Kneale 2019). It appears that Hadrian aimed for his renovated Pantheon to serve as a kind of universal temple where citizens might offer adoration to all deities they choose, not simply local Roman deities (Kneale 2019). This would have fit with Hadrian’s personality because he was a much-traveled ruler who valued various religions and adored Greek culture.
Similar to the Pantheon, the Parthenon served as a holy place for various nations. The Parthenon was transformed into a Christian church to the mother of Jesus in the 6th century A.D. (Kissock 2018). In the 15th century, following the Ottoman invasion, the Parthenon was converted into a mosque (Kissock 2018). However, shortly it was sieged during the Venetian attack on the Acropolis, which further led to a fire in the area. The Parthenon and its sculptures were extensively destroyed by the explosion that followed.
Political Importance
Furthermore, in the Pantheon, Hadrian frequently held court, making it more open to the public than other sites, indicating the temple’s political importance. Consequently, the Pantheon rose to prominence as an emblem of Imperial supremacy. In addition, the design of the dome and rosettes made from bronze that depicts the bright skies visually imply that Hadrian, who would have been seated beneath the sunlight from the oculus and accompanied by the sculptures of deities, was endowed with divine favor in his role as Roman emperor (Kneale 2019). The Pantheon functioned as an illustration of propaganda in this sense. Unlike Pantheon, which was used for political propaganda, Parthenon served as a symbol of democracy. Additionally, it was constructed following the Persian invasion of Athens in 480 BC. (Kissock 2018). Thus, it commemorates the triumph and Athens’ strength on the political, socioeconomic, and cultural fronts.
Artistic and Architectural Styles
Lastly, it is worthy of mentioning that while keeping its distinctiveness, Pantheon has prominent architectural aspects from the time of its creation. With a façade supported by sixteen columns, the entrance and middle block adopt a Greek design (Calder 2021). After going through the entrance, one arrives at the spacious dome, which is built in the Roman architectural style as a result of the massive dome’s structure from pressing on the cylinder’s sidewalls (Calder 2021). There have been rumors about the Pantheon’s constructor because of its unique design, which combines elements of Greek and Roman architecture. The columns significantly contribute to the majesty of the Pantheon when viewed from the outside. The 16 monolithic columns’ about 40 Roman-foot-tall each, are built from red and gray granite (Calder 2021). The Pantheon now holds a variety of religious art and some tombs after being pronounced as a church.
The Parthenon is too a rectangular construction made of white marble that has endured deterioration throughout the years, such as the disappearance of the majority of its artwork. A ceiling structure, comprised of a simple architrave, or bar of stone, is supported by unsupported columns with square crowns that rest on a three-stepped foundation (Calder 2021). In precise symmetry, the sculptures on the Parthenon surpassed its construction. The metopes above the exterior colonnade were depicted in great relief and referred to the wars with the Persian army, in which the Greeks finally succeeded but not without suffering casualties of their own (Calder 2021). The Parthenon was substantially unaltered for more than two thousand years due to the meticulous installation of perfectly cut stone (Calder 2021). When the structure was transformed into a Byzantine church, several of the sculptures—including the enormous figure of Phidias—were removed.
Hence, both Pantheon and Parthenon are important historic buildings that served as inspiration and a symbol of imperial strength. Both constructions have similarities, such as architectural styles incorporating columns and marble. Furthermore, they were used as holy places to worship gods. However, there are certain differences between the two sites, such as the purpose of buildings and political importance, with one being considered propaganda and another commemorating a triumph over the Persian army and indicating democracy.
References
Calder, Barnabas. 2021. Architecture: From Prehistory to Climate Emergency. Penguin.
Kissock, Heather. 2018. Parthenon. Weigl Publishers.
Kneale, Matthew. 2019. Rome: A History in Seven Sackings. Simon & Schuster.