As pantheon is one of the well-preserved buildings of Ancient Rome and an architectural masterpiece, so here we let you know these Pantheon interesting facts, which could help you to explore the pantheon history facts, therefore, let’s have a look at 30 fun and interesting facts about the Pantheon in Rome.
Pantheon History, Interesting Facts
1. The current Pantheon is the 3rd version de the original after the first 2 burned down in fires.
2. The original Pantheon built in 31 BC
3. The original Pantheon was facing south and not North in its current position
4. In 80 AD, the Pantheon was rebuilt by Domitian after the fire and that one burned down too and was not rebuilt again until 110 AD by Emperor Hadrian.
5. The Oculus which is the opening of the dome is 8.8 meters in diameter.
6. The Pantheon facts let you know that originally The Pantheon was a pagan temple and then became a church in the year 609 AD. It is dedicated to St. Mary of the Martyrs but still to most of the people, it is simply known as the Pantheon.
7. The rotunda of the Pantheon is a perfect hemisphere which is 43.2 m in diameter which is exactly the maximum height of the dome.
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8. The dome which is 4,535 metric tons in weight is concentrated on a ring of voussoirs 9.1 meters in diameter.
9. The interesting fact about the pantheon is that it is 43.2 meters the Pantheon was the worlds largest brick dome for over 1000 years during the year 128–1436 AD. It was overtaken by the Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence that was made by the architect  Filippo Brunelleschi who had spent many years in Rome studying the construction of the Pantheon.
10. The inscription on the Patheon reads “M.AGRIPPA.L.F.COSTERTIUM.FECIT”  that means “Marcus Agrippa son of Lucius”.
11. The great artist Michelangelo who was not easily impressed by describing the Pantheon as “angelic and not human design.”
12. Both the kings of Italy buried in the Pantheon, Umberto I and his wife Queen Margherita along with Vittorio Emmanuele II.
13. However, the Pantheon is still, the worlds largest unreinforced concrete dome in the history of architecture.
14. The name Pantheon is derived from ancient Greek as a temple dedicated to all gods where “pan”  means “all” and “Theos” means “god”.
15. Pope Urban VIII added the two bell towers designed by Bernini in the 1500s but they removed in the year 1883 after being labeled “donkey’s ears”.
16. To support the dome, the brick walls of the Pantheon was made, of  6 meters thick which is about 20 feet.
17. The Pantheon has its own drainage system which deals with the rain which falls through the Oculus. If you look closely at the floor surely you will find some holes in the slabs to drain the water.
18. Maria Bibbiena the long-suffering fiancée of Rafael the artist is also buried next to him inside the Pantheon.
19. Below the original inscription, you will find a second engravement made by Septimius Severus and his son and also by co-emperor Caracalla from the restoration in 202 AD.
20. The design of the Pantheon is so, such that the perfect sphere could sit inside the symbolizing vault of heaven.
21. In 1800 Pope Pius VII cleaned up the Piazza facing the Pantheon and had left the inscription on the wall.
22. The Pantheon was originally built with a flight of steps but a, later on, the construction raised the level of the ground leading to the portico which eliminated the steps.
23. During the day the light coming through the Oculus moves around inside of the Pantheon in a reverse sundial effect.
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24. Gradually the Pantheon has been stripped of its Bronze decoration over the centuries.
25. The Pantheon holds the tomb of the famous artist Raphael (1483-1520 AD).
26. Ancient Romans took  4-5 years to build the walls of the Rotunda and another 4-5 years to build the dome itself.
27. The double doors of the Pantheon are of 21 feet high.
28. The Pantheon boasts 16 columns for the inner area of the Portico.
29. There are several monuments all over the world modeled on the Pantheon in Rome such as; the US Capitol Building, the Pantheon in Paris, Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence and Jefferson Memorial in Washington D.C.
30. The Pantheon is located at Piazza della Rotonda and it is named so after the unofficial medieval name of the Pantheon which was Santa Maria Rotonda.
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