The Pantheon in Rome is the most complete surviving building of ancient Rome. Since the Renaissance the great dome and its huge interior space have made an indelible impression on anyone who saw it and the structure became one of the most influential buildings in history. The dome of the Pantheon, or Rotunda as it is also called, covers a span that was never surpassed by more than a few feet until the use of steel and reinforced concrete much such expanses routine. The scope of the architect's achievement was impressive by Roman standards and remained just as impressive for many centuries. There is some debate over the precise function of the great temple. But the building was clearly the culmination of a new interest in architecture as contained space rather than as external structure. This volumetric approach was to determine the course of Roman architecture for some time. The building has long been one of the few spots in Europe that can give the visitor, to some degree, the opportunity of seeing and experiencing what the ancient Romans did.
Though there is some uncertainty about its original purpose, it is clear that the Pantheon served political and religious goals of the Emperor Hadrian who was responsible for its construction. The symbolic furnishings of the building, which would confirm its uses, disappeared long ago and opinions about the building's specific use are based on informed conjecture rather than on much solid evidence. As a technical achievement, the building has been regarded as a culmination in Roman architecture. The structural innovations of the first century were made possible by the invention of a new type of cement that could be easily used in curvilinear forms and the Pantheon has been seen as the ultimate use of this new technology.
The Pantheon was constructed between the years A.D. 118-128 in the reign of Hadrian. The date is approximate but can be very close because the brick makers' m...