Tuesday 24 May 2011

ROME - ANCIENT PANTHEON

An ancient beauty and a symbol of excelence and the perfection.



The buidling located in the centre of Rome,  is a glamorous example of ancient temples.



Edifice has been  built by Marcus Agrippa, roman general and statesman , and originally has been  dedicated to all ancient roman gods .



In the begining the building was surrounded by  many gods sculptures and had a stepped approach with the pediment.



The temple is circular in plan, consists of  three ranks of grey granite Corinthian columns which support a triangular stone portico/porch (originally there were two of  them),  pronaos (columnade leading to the entrance )  and a main chamber of a temple which is a rotonda that houses a nishes, apses and the oltars of the cult figures.



In the next centuries after conversion the temple into a catholic church, the gods figures were replaced by figures and thombes of the catholic saints, popes, great artists like Rafaell Santi, or music composer Corelli.



One of the most impressive things about the building is it's interiour with  roman concrete dome, oculus - the only sorce of direct light in the temple and  lovely square coffers around the dome as well as the constructiion of the dome itself  which thickness variess from 6.4 m at the base of the dome to 1.2m at the top .



 No wonder why it is one of the most popular monuments in Rome for many centuries until today.



One more thing : when visitng that great edifice do not forgett about a lovely obelisk located outside, in front of the building, which was a very thoughtfull  idea in terms of a composition of a square, housing the Temple.




 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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