Italy Rome Travel - The Pantheon and Margherita Pizza

 The last stop of the Rome city tour was the Pantheon. It is also one of the locations featured in the movie The Da Vinci Code. When I had no interest in Rome, I didn't even know that such a temple existed, but afterward, I became curious and wanted to visit it someday.

The area in front of the Pantheon was so crowded that it was difficult to walk. It was hard to figure out where the entrance line was. The voices of people echoed through the small square. It was as bustling as the entrance to St. Peter's Basilica. However, the guides skillfully navigated through the crowd and led the way.

The front of the Pantheon

The Pantheon is considered the pinnacle of ancient Roman architecture. It was initially built around 27 BC by Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, but it was destroyed multiple times by fires. Emperor Hadrian rebuilt The current Pantheon in the early 2nd century (reigned 117–138 AD).

At the front, there is a portico resembling a Greek temple. Eight massive Corinthian columns stand tall; behind them, a circular building enclosing the central dome extends further. The columns are made of granite from Egypt, and each is about 11.8 meters high.

The inscription of the Pantheon

The inscription on the portico is one of the key elements reflecting the history of the Pantheon.

"M·AGRIPPA·L·F·COS·TERTIVM·FECIT"

This is the Latin abbreviation for "Marcus Agrippa, Lucii filius, consul tertium fecit," which means:

"Marcus Agrippa, son of Lucius, built this while serving as consul for the third time."

This inscription honors Agrippa, the original builder of the Pantheon. However, since Emperor Hadrian rebuilt the existing Pantheon, it is an interesting example of how past achievements were commemorated. It is curious that even though an emperor reconstructed it, the name of the original builder was inscribed—something that may seem unusual from a Korean perspective.

The Pantheon in Rome was originally built as a temple dedicated to all gods. It was later reconstructed with stone and has remained standing in its grand form to this day.

One of the most remarkable features of the Pantheon is its dome structure. The Pantheon's dome is the largest ancient Roman dome, with a diameter of 43.3 meters. At the center of the dome is a circular opening called the oculus, which measures 9 meters in diameter. Despite lacking a keystone to support the structure, the dome has remained intact for nearly 2,000 years. This is attributed to Roman concrete and an advanced construction technique where lighter materials, such as volcanic rock and pumice, were used towards the top of the dome. The precise details of how the dome was engineered remain a mystery.

The Magnificent Dome of the Pantheon

This dome was frequently mentioned before and after my visit. It is said that the architects of Hagia Sophia also referred to the Pantheon when designing their structures. When constructing the dome of the Florence Cathedral, Filippo Brunelleschi struggled to find a solution and ultimately drew inspiration from the Pantheon. St. Peter's Basilica followed the same example. This demonstrates how advanced ancient Roman architecture and engineering were compared to the Middle Ages.

The Drainage System of the Pantheon

Light enters through the oculus, and sometimes rain does too. However, an elaborate drainage system is installed on the floor to prevent the interior from becoming wet. Thanks to this system, the indoor space remains dry and comfortable.

The Drainage System of the Pantheon

Today, the Pantheon is not just a historical monument but also a church and a burial site. The tombs of royal figures who played crucial roles in Italy's unification are here. King Victor Emmanuel II, his wife Queen Margherita, and his successor Umberto I are all buried in the Pantheon.

The Tomb of Queen Margherita

Queen Margherita is particularly famous for her connection to the iconic Italian dish, Margherita pizza. She was the first member of the royal family to visit Naples, where local pizza makers created a pizza reflecting the colors of the Italian flag—red, white, and green—as a tribute to her. This is said to be the origin of Margherita Pizza.

 The Tomb of Raphael

Additionally, the Pantheon houses the tomb of the great artist Raphael. As a genius painter of the Renaissance era, his burial here adds further historical and artistic significance to the site. The way sunlight moves across the interior over time creates a mystical atmosphere.

Sunlight passing through the oculus