The Pantheon in Rome is an ancient temple, dedicated to all the gods, which has survived in remarkably complete condition. The first building was commissioned by Marcus Agrippa during the reign of Augustus, but it burned down and the present structure was built under the emperor Hadrian in the early second century CE. Its great dome, topped by an open circular oculus, remains the largest unreinforced concrete dome in the world, and the interior is a perfect sphere in proportion. The inscription on the porch still names Agrippa. In 609 the building was given to the Church and consecrated as a Christian church, which probably explains its survival. Raphael and several kings of Italy are buried there.
Before and after
- 26 April 121 CEBirth of Marcus Aurelius
- 122 CEConstruction of Hadrian's Wall
- 122 CEConstruction of Hadrian's Wall begins
- c. 125 CEOrigins of Edirne
- 2nd centuryConstruction of Pantheon
- September 129 CEBirth of Galen
- from 132 CE to 136 CEBar Kokhba revolt
- 132 CEZhang Heng builds the first seismoscope
- 135 CEOrigins of Temple of Venus and Roma
More in Civilizations & archaeology
- from c. 2,601 BCE to 1,901 BCEThe Indus Valley cities reach maturity
- c. 1,274 BCEConstruction of Abu Simbel
- from 351 BCE to 1494Construction of Mausoleum at Halicarnassus
- from 323 BCE to 30 BCEHellenistic period
- 323 BCEConstruction of Temple of Ephesian Artemis
- 248 BCEConstruction of Terracotta Army
The era
This moment belongs to the Ancient civilizations (3,200 BCE to 500 CE), writing, cities and empires.