When it comes to Roman history there are many incredible examples of the way in which these creative and systematically organised individuals have impacted upon the world in which we now live. Whether it is developing early forms of underfloor heating, our road systems or early drainage systems that a Drain Lining Company today can still follow the original lines of.
One of the most spectacular buildings you can see well preserved, that showcases all of these inventions is the Pantheon in Ancient Rome.
The building was completed back in 125 CE which was during the reign of Hadrian. The building stands almost entirely intact and is the world’s largest free-standing concrete structure. In its architecture you can see the classic Roman styling of a dome roof and central area along with the classic columns that grace the porch area. Although its actual use is not definitively known it is thought that, as a result of studying the architecture of the building and comparing it to others in the area, that it was most likely a temple of one description or another.
It has remained one of the most visited sites in Ancient Rome and each year thousands and thousands of visitors arrive to look around the building which has stood in place for well over 2000 years and hails back to the glorious time of the Roman Empire.
The Pantheon and its likely purpose
The Pantheon is one of the finest examples of Roman skill. Built from an early form of concrete, its size and scale are remarkable for a time with none of the modern lifting equipment builders now rely on for working at height and moving materials. The building dates back to around 125 CE, and it remains one of the most visited sites in Rome.
Its original purpose is not fully known. By comparing it with similar buildings in the area and researching what stood on the site before, historians think it was probably a temple. It may also have been a place where the Emperor Hadrian met the public, surrounded by statues and symbols of gods, goddesses and earlier emperors that helped to reinforce his status. Texts from the period describe statues of Mars, Venus and Julius Caesar inside.
Hadrian liked to honour those who had commissioned earlier buildings. An older building commissioned by Marcus Agrippa once stood on the site, and an inscription on the Pantheon still dedicates it to him.