Communicating through Photos and Slides

The Pantheon was rebuilt in 126 AD by Emperor Hadrian. The term Pantheon means "to all gods".


The Pantheon was a place to worship the gods, which is why it was located in the center of ancient Rome on the site map.


A space of worship was created through the use of the structure of the building as well as the interior details such as the Oculus.




The overall structure of the building is equivalent to a sphere, making one feel as if they were encompassed by the gods when they entered this space for worship. A basic parti of this building would be a circle within a square because the Pantheon seemed to be the only round domed building among all of the rectangular buildings i the city.



The Oculus was not only a cooling and ventilation method for the dome but it was also one of the only sources of natural lighting. At one point during the day the light that floods in from the oculus would illuminate one of the statues of the seven gods along the interior walls.


I think that this quote is a good example of what people understood the building as during this time period. While some may have felt it was a place to worship due to the interior details such as the statues of the gods. Others felt that its massive dome structure was what made it stand out as a place of worship. However even though there were debates on why it was built the way it was, it was a universal understanding that this was a place where one would come to experience worship.