Here are some interesting facts about the Pantheon, Even today, 2000 years after its construction, the breathtaking Pantheon is a wonderful building to see. The spectacular design, elegance, and harmony are a striking reminder of the architecture of the great Roman Empire. When Michelangelo saw this wonder for the first time he said that it seems like the work of angels, not humans.
Here are some Pantheon Facts and History
1. The current Pantheon is the 3rd version after the first 2 burned down in fires.
2. The original Pantheon was built in 31 BC and the construction was commissioning Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa.
3. The original Pantheon was facing the south, not the North in its current position.
4. After a fire in 80 AD, it was rebuilt by Domitian and that one burned down too and then was not rebuilt again until 110 AD by Emperor Hadrian.
5. The “Oculus” which is the opening of the dome and the source of light for the Pantheon is around 8.8 meters in diameter.
6. The Pantheon became a church in 609 AD and before it was a pagan temple. It is dedicated to St. Mary of the Martyrs but most people simply know it as the Pantheon.
7. The rotunda of the Pantheon is a perfect hemisphere that measures around 43.2 m in diameter which is exactly the maximum height of the dome.
Read also: some interesting facts about Eiffel Tower
8. The dome weighs 4,535 metric tons and is concentrated on a ring of voussoirs 9.1 meters in diameter.
9. At 43.2 meters the Pantheon was the world’s largest brick dome for over 1000 years between 128–1436 AD. It was overtaken by the Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence which was made by the architect  Filippo Brunelleschi, who had spent many years in Rome studying the construction of the Pantheon.
10. It boasts 16 massive columns for the inner area of the Portico
11. The great artist Michelangelo was not impressed by describing  the Pantheon as “angelic and not human design.”
12. Both the  Kings of Italy were buried in the Pantheon, Umberto I and his wife Queen Margherita along with Vittorio Emanuele II.
13. However, the Pantheon is still the world’s largest unreinforced concrete dome in the history of architecture.
14. The name Pantheon is derived from ancient Greek dedicated to all gods as “pan” (all) and “theos” (god).
15. Pope Urban VIII added two bell towers designed by Bernini in the 1500s but they were removed in 1883 after being labeled “donkey’s ears”.
16. It was originally built with a flight of steps but a later construction raised the level of the ground leading to the portico which eliminated the steps.
17. The Pantheon has its own drainage system to deal with the rain which falls through the Oculus. If you look closely at the floor surely you will find some holes in the slabs to drain the water.
18. Maria Bibbiena the long-suffering fiancée of Rafael the artist had also buried next to him inside of the Pantheon.
19. During the day, light coming through the Oculus and moves around inside of the Pantheon in a reverse sundial effect.
20. The design of the Pantheon is so, such that a  perfect sphere could sit inside symbolizing the vault of heaven.
21. The ancient Romans took 4-5 years to build the walls of the Rotunda and another 4-5 years to build the dome itself.
22. The doors of the Pantheon are 21 feet high.
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Those were the Fun Facts About The Pantheon which must be known to all. It helps you to discover the Pantheon History If you are interested to visit Pantheon then it indicates that you are planning your trip to Paris then go to my other blogs as well because from there you will be able to get the best tourism places in Paris, restaurants in Paris and other related things as well. If you liked our post please like it and comment in the below comment section. Â
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