The Pantheon in Rome is one of the oldest and most well-preserved ancient structures still standing today. Originally built as a temple to honor all gods in 27 BC, it was later reconstructed under Emperor Hadrian in 125 AD and converted to a Catholic church in 608 AD. The Pantheon's most distinctive feature is its large oculus opening at the top of the dome, which at nearly 30 feet in diameter was the building's only source of light. Though originally used as a pagan temple, it continues to serve as a Roman Catholic church and is still an iconic landmark attracting many visitors to Rome.

1. The Pantheon Rome, Italy Drew Matthews and Cassi Lau

2. The Pantheon One of the wonders of the ancient world and one of Rome’s most popular tourist attractions It was once used as a temple to honor all gods and now used as a Roman Catholic church Pantheon in Greek means “to honor all gods” The inscription on the Pantheon reads: " M·AGRIPPA·L·F·COS·TERTIVM·FECIT ” which translates to "'Marcus Agrippa, son of Lucius, Consul for the third time, built this”

3. The Pantheon sits on the southern edge of the Piazza Della Rotonda, one of the city's most famous plazas At the center of the plaza is a towering obelisk, which Pope Clement XI placed in the early 1700s

4. The Piazza della Rotonda with its beautiful fountain designed by Giacomo Della Porta. The Piazza della Rotonda is a lively square filled with cafes, bars, and restaurants.

5. History Pantheon was first built by Augustus’s general Marcus Agrippa in 27 BC and later reconstructed by Emperor Hadrian in 125 AD In 608 AD the Byzantine Emperor Phocas gave the building to Pope Boniface IV, who converted it to a Christian church, that was dedicated to “St. Mary and the Martyrs” In the early 17 th Century, Pope Urban VIII removed the bronze beams of the portico, using the bronze to construct the canopy that covers the altar at St. Peter’s Basilica

6. History Since the Renaissance the Pantheon has been used as a tomb The building houses the tombs of two 19 th Century kings Victor Emmanuel II and Umberto I And also serves as the burial place of the painter Raphael

7. The most striking thing about the Pantheon is the unity of the building It is a marvel of architectural harmony and proportion Architecture

8. Beneath the light and between the granite Corinthian columns, seven sculptures stand These Roman gods correspond to each of the seven planets (at the time) and remain in their original spots Architecture

9. Columns The ranks of columns consist of eight in the first row, and two groups of four behind The massive columns supporting the portico weigh 60 tons. Each is 39 feet tall and 5 feet in diameter They were made from stone quarried in Egypt

10. Oculus The opening at the top of the Pantheon, the oculus, is nearly 30 feet in diameter and was the temples only source of light The oculus also serves as a cooling and ventilation method

11. Rotunda The concrete dome is 4,535 metric tons The top of the rotunda wall features a series of brick relieving arches, visible on the outside and built into the mass of the brickwork

12. Portico A rectangular structure links the portico with the rotunda. In the walls at the back of the portico were niches for statues of Caesar, Augustus and Agrippa

13. The pediment was decorated with a sculpture in bronze showing the Battle of the Titans The building was originally approached by a flight of steps. The ground level in the surrounding area has risen considerably since antiquity

14. Interior The interior of the Pantheon was painted by Giovanni Paolo Panini in the 18th century Each zone of the interior, from floor to ceiling, is subdivided according to a different scheme. As a result, the interior decorative zones do not line up.

15. Circles and squares form the unifying theme of the interior design. The checkerboard floor pattern contrasts with the concentric circles of square coffers in the dome

16. Religion It’s possible that the Pantheon had an impact on Western religion the Pantheon appears to be the first temple built with general public access in mind Temples of the ancient world were generally limited only to specific priests The Pantheon existed for all the people

17. The Pantheon is still used as a church today Masses are celebrated there on important Catholic days of obligation and weddings

18. Getting there…