Knowra Pantheon Pantheon An ancient Roman temple in Rome, rebuilt under Emperor Hadrian and later converted into a church. Its unreinforced concrete dome, pierced by a central oculus, remains the largest of its kind.
Roman concrete : A durable ancient building material made from lime mortar, volcanic ash, water, and aggregate. Its changing composition and lightweight aggregate helped builders span the rotunda with a concrete dome.
Marcus Agrippa : A Roman general and statesman who served as a close ally of Augustus. The inscription on the present façade names Agrippa, whose earlier Pantheon stood on the site.
Santa Maria ad Martyres : The Christian basilica occupying the Pantheon in Rome, also called Santa Maria della Rotonda. Its conversion in the seventh century helped preserve the ancient building through continued use.
Pantheon inscription : The Latin dedication on the Pantheon’s portico attributing its construction to Marcus Agrippa. The inscription survives from the earlier building tradition despite the present structure’s later date.
Oculus : A circular opening at the top of a dome or roof. The dome’s central opening admits daylight and reduces the structure’s weight at its highest point.
Augustus : Rome’s first emperor, who ruled from 27 BCE to 14 CE. Agrippa built the first Pantheon during Augustus’s reign.
Christianization of Rome : The gradual adoption of Christianity across Rome’s institutions, spaces, and population. The Pantheon’s conversion turned a former Roman temple into a Christian place of worship.
Pantheon pronaos : The columned entrance porch at the front of the Pantheon in Rome. Its monumental portico forms the temple-like approach to the circular rotunda.
Coffering : A pattern of recessed panels in a ceiling or vault. Five rows of coffers lighten the dome and give its interior a measured geometric pattern.
Hadrian : Roman emperor from 117 to 138 CE, known for extensive building projects. The surviving Pantheon was constructed under Hadrian, though its façade preserves Agrippa’s inscription.
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