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The Pantheon

The Pantheon is one of the most preserved structures from the ancient Rome. The Pantheon was built in by Augustus just before the birth of Christ and dedicated "to all the gods". The name of Agrippa, which can still be read on the facade, remembers the son-in-law of the Emperor Augustus. The Emperor Hadrian rebuilt the monument in the early 2nd century, keeping only the ancient inscription. Around 609 AD the Pantheon was converted into a church and dedicated to Mary.

For the solemn consecration of the church, the pope had 28 cartloads of bones of martyrs brought from the catacombe, putting them underneath the altar. During the ceremony, as the notes of the Gloria were struck, the Romans saw swarms of devils rise up and fly out the hole in the dome.

The most amazing characteristic of the building is the exceptional covering dome. lt is the largest dome ever created out of concrete: it measures 43.30 mt. in diameter and is greater than that of the dome of St.Peter's!

The entire building is conceived as a perfect geometric figure: a sphere inserted in a cylinder. The dome, created with different materials, increasingly lighter as they go upwards, ends with a large open "eye"', of a diameter of 9 metres. Through this opening enters the rain, which is conveyed into the drains visible on the pavement.

Thanks to www.romaclick.com for the information.

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