The Pantheon - Term Paper Example

Giraldo Andrea & school: ARC 2701- History of Architecture Semester & Year: Online Spring of School: Florida International University The Pantheon Introduction The Pantheon is one of the most outstanding architectural structures in the history of the Romans. The Pantheon was first constructed in 27 BC by Agrippa. The Pantheon was destroyed many times and rebuilt and the present structure is much different from the one Agrippa had built. The current Pantheon was designed by Emperor Hadrian and was completed between C.E. 118 and 128. The structure is in the form of a perfect sphere, exhibiting its importance in spatial dimension. This paper explores the three elements, which makes up the Pantheon. The paper explores the porch, rectangular block and the rotunda and why they remain influential in today’s architecture. Further, the paper will explore the oculus at the top of the Pantheon’s dome and also explores the significance of spheres and circles in Roman history. Three Major Elements of the Pantheon The Pantheon’s design was done in three parts. The rotunda is the first part, which is the main portion of the building. The rotunda is a massive brick-and-concrete cylindrical dome (DuTemple22). The porch, which is the entrance, is the second part of the design of the Pantheon. The entrance was designed in a more conventional porch embedded with columns. “The Pantheon rotunda, its entrance gained by passing along and through the traditional architectural forms of that world, revealed a great symbol of the dominion of Rome in one poignant visual experience” (MacDonald 88). The third and last element of the Pantheon’s design is the rectangular block of concrete, which links the porch with the domed cylinder (DuTemple22). Even though the traditional porch was a popular thing among the Romans, combining it with a giant rotunda resulted into a completely new and unique structure. Those visiting the building would approach it via a large courtyard referred to as forecourt. The forecourt was bordered by marble columns on each of its sides (DuTemple22). “At the far end, they would see the traditional porch with its carved stone columns” (DuTemple22). However, there was no clear view of the rotunda at the back of the porch. When approaching the building from the forecourt, the dome appeared to be large, but not particularly fundamental. The rotunda resembled a gigantic saucepan fitted with a lid on its top (DuTemple22). It is only after entering the porch that anyone could come into the reality of the beautiful sight inside the rotunda, which was “a perfect hemisphere, 142 feet (43 m), in diameter, curving upward from the top of a giant round wall” (DuTemple22). After clearing the ground on which the building was to be built, the measurements of the building were done by Hadrian’s architects. The measurement was in circular form because it was easier to measure a circular building than a rectangular one. Because the place in which the Pantheon was to be built was near a river, which often flooded, the architects knew the only solution was to lay a strong foundation for the building. The strong foundation was very important owing to the massive weight that the dome of the Pantheon would exert on it. It was estimated that the dome would weigh approximately 5,000 tons coupled with even much heavier weigh of the rotunda wall (DuTemple 27). The first interior wall has the same diameter as that of the interior of the building, which is 142 feet (43 m) while the other circular brick wall was constructed from the first wall and measured 20 feet (6 m) (DuTemple 28). “The rotunda wall can be thought of as two circular brick walls, one inside the other, with a core concrete sandwiched between them” (DuTemple 28). The two circular brick walls acted as the mold for the rotunda wall during construction. The space between the walls was filled up with concrete resulting into a single thick brick and concrete wall (MacDonald 38). The bays in the rotunda wall were aimed at lightening the weight of the wall. They also served decorative purpose as well. The inside of the rotunda was decorated with stonework. Two carved marbles were constructed in front of every bay. Over the bays were two marble cornices fitted. The thick wall provides support for the weight of the dome. The unique configuration of the dome makes it a difficult feature of the Pantheon to describe. The giant hemispherical dome covering the top of the concrete cylinder has a diameter of 142 feet. The top of the dome also measures 142 feet from the floor (Kleiner 268). The diameter of the dome to the interior side is 43, 3 m and is the same to the oculus’s height (Botes 3; Hahn 40). On the exterior sides of the dome lies a string of seven-step rings in the middle of the dome. On the sides of the dome are coffers, which are waffle-like holes. The dome contour changes into circular line from the coffers at the center of the dome. The only source of light in the dome is a sing circular opening, oculus, whose diameter is 30 feet (Castex 107; Kleiner 268). The oculus in the dome of the Pantheon is exposed to the weather and permits rain to fall directly on to the floor of the Pantheon after which the rain water is led away by drains (Botes 3). These three elements have remained largely influential in the present architectural designs owing to their attractiveness and unique nature. Importance of Circles and Spheres in the History of the Romans Circles and spheres remain very crucial in the Roman history. The use of circles and spheres were generally the distinction between the Greek and Roman architecture. The roman domes were usually associated with baths, tombs and palaces among other important places. Oculi formed a major component of the domes. The roman baths is strongly linked with influencing dome-shaped architectural designs from early periods of the Roman Empire. The roman culture borrowed much from the Greek culture. Most aspects of the roman architectures were largely borrowed from the Greek art. However, the Romans wanted to set their artistry apart from the Greek models. This marked the invention of circular and domed constructions. The Roman Empire was in fact the first civilization to develop arched constructions. The arch was a symbol of power in the ancient Rome. The arch was presented to the pulpit to symbolize the victory of Christ and the after life. The arch concept became a central theme that was connected with Romanesque as well as Gothic Cathedrals (Kilde 241). Circles and spheres marked the originality of the Roman architecture. Conclusion Agrippa first built the Pantheon was in 27 BC, but the structure was destroyed several time. However each time it was destroyed the building would be rebuilt. The currently standing structure was designed and built under the emperor Hadrian and was finished between C.E. 118 and 128. The Pantheon is one of the most outstanding structures that exhibit the legacy of the ancient roman society. The Pantheon is a clear evidence of architectural prowess of the early roman society and remains largely influential of the present architectural designs, not only in Italy, but in the entire world. Works Cited Botes, Louis. Concrete structures. Cape Town: Pearson Education South Africa, 2009.Print. Castex, Jean. Architecture of Italy. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 2008. Print. DuTemple, Lesley A. The Pantheon. Minneapolis: Lerner Publications Co., 2003.Print. Hahn, Alexander. Mathematical excursions to the worlds great buildings. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2012. Print. Kilde, Jeanne Halgren. When church became theatre: the transformation of evangelical architecture and worship in nineteenth-century America. New York: Oxford University Press, 2002. Kleiner, Fred. Intl Stdt Edition-Gardners Art Thru/Ages: Globl Hist.Boston, MA: Cengage Learning EMEA, 2008.Print. MacDonald, William Lloyd. The Pantheon: design, meaning, and progeny. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard Univ. Press, 2002. Print. Read More