Introduction: Into the History of the Ancient Wonder
There is hardly a single person who has never heard of the Pantheon. The dwelling of the Ancient Roman gods, this is a true miracle of architecture. As a matter of fact, the reasons for the Romans to come up with an idea to build a Pantheon for honoring gods are rather peculiar.
If digging a bit deeper into the history, one will be able to find out that the reasons for the creation of one of the most magnificent buildings in the world history was merely the wish to fear of bearing a “debt” to the Ancient Roman gods. According to what Formby says, the construction of the building was the following:
The idea of discharging the debt of honor which the Roman army had accumulated by the building of a temple dedicated to ‘Jupiter Ultor,’ including the honor of Cybele and the gods who have been invited to make Rome their place of abode, whence its remarkable name of Pantheon. (Formby 353)
Marcus Agrippa and His Creation
Though one might have thought that the name of the architect who developed the project and managed to construct the incredible building should have been washed away by the sands of time by now, the author of the artwork is actually well-known.
One of the most prominent architects of the Ancient Rome, Marcus Agrippa is actually known for being a general. Perhaps, these are the ambitions of a general that the Pantheon owes its majestic look to: “the temple of all the gods” (Formby 353), the edifice “formed a most conspicuous object”. (Formby 353).
When It Comes to Details: The Peculiarities of Architecture
Like any other historic and architectural landmark, Pantheon has its unique features and specific elements. To start with, the famous Tor de Schiavi, the Pantheon façade, needs some comments.
Considered “an uncompromised design” (Grasshoff 183), the given element adds to the magnificence of the building and at the same time serves its key function well, i.e., both invites the visitors and represents the essence of the Ancient Roman architecture.
As for the famous triglyphs, as well as metopes, these obviously serve both to emphasize the power and the grandeur of the building (Markman 297). It seems that the entrance to the Pantheon reminds one that this is the realm of gods, not human beings. Embodying steadiness, triglyphs remind of the three whales which the world stands on – it seems that the number of columns in a triglyph was deliberate.
Speaking of other peculiar elements of the Pantheon which are worth mentioning, one must take a closer look at its “horizontal and raking cornices” (Markman 297). With the help of the given element, the whole building seems well-balanced and refined, and its ever single element is in its place.
Another peculiar element of the specific architecture of Pantheon is its dome. Supposed to remind of where gods dwell, it is truly huge and really impressive.
However, it is not the ample size of the dome that strikes architects most; the greatest mystery of all concerning the Pantheon is what the purpose of the stepped rings of the dome is. Indeed, as elements of décor, they look rather organic, yet they are way too unnoticeable at first glance to serve as one of the decorations. According to DuTemple,
Stepped rings act as buttresses for the dome. But some scholars argue that the stepped rings don’t actually support the dome. Some argue that the rings were not built for any structural reasons, but simply because they made the construction easier (DuTemple 39)
The given suggestion is actually a very good point. Indeed, stepped rings do тещ seem an organic continuation of the temple – on the contrary, they seem a somewhat rushed decision. Thus, it can be considered that the only purpose of the stepped rings was to make the work of the architects simpler.
Nevertheless, the construction of the dome seems to have been the focus of the ancient architects. It embodied the place where the ancient gods lived, to begin with. Moreover, the huge size of the dome was also deliberate. As DuTemple explains, it “showed continuity” (53).
However, not only the elements of the Pantheon architecture, but also its location was supposed to have a secret meaning As DuTemple explains, “Even the position of the Pantheon was symbolic” (53). Aligned with the Mausoleum of Augustus, the Pantheon embodies a tribute to the latter (DuTemple 53).
Conclusion: There Is More to It Than Meets the Eye
Therefore, it is clear that the Roman Pantheon is, doubtlessly, one of the greatest artworks ever. Not only embracing the cultural influences of the ancient times and reflecting the then idea of beauty and architectural aesthetics, but also portraying the tastes and beliefs of the Ancient Romans, Pantheon is definitely a landmark of the development of the humankind.
Works Cited
DuTemple, Lesley. The Pantheon. Minneapolis, MN: Twenty-First century Books, 2003. Print.
Formby, Henry. Ancient Rome and Its Connection with the Christian Religion. Whitefish, MN: Kessinger Publishing. 2005. Print.
Grasshoff, Gerd. The Pantheon in Rome. Bern: Book on Demand. 2009. Print.
Markman, Sidney D. Architecture and Urbanization in Colonial Chiapas, Mexico. Washington, DC: Library of Congress. 1984. Print.