Who built the Pantheon in Rome?
Quick answer
The Pantheon that stands in Rome today was built under Emperor Hadrian, around AD 113–125, replacing an earlier temple. Confusingly, its front still reads “M·AGRIPPA·L·F·COS·TERTIVM·FECIT”, crediting Marcus Agrippa, who built the first Pantheon in 27 BC. Hadrian modestly kept Agrippa’s inscription.
Key facts
- Present building
- About AD 113–125, under Hadrian
- Original
- 27 BC, Marcus Agrippa
- Dome diameter
- About 43.3 m (142 ft)
- Use today
- Church (since AD 609) and tourist site
Who really started it?
Agrippa’s original temple burned down, and a replacement under Emperor Domitian burned too. Brick stamps show the present building was begun around AD 113, possibly late in Trajan’s reign, and completed under Hadrian, who is usually credited as its builder.
The record-breaking dome
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Diameter | About 43.3 m, exactly equal to its height |
| Record | Still the largest unreinforced concrete dome in the world |
| Oculus | An open hole about 8–9 m wide at the top, the only light source |
| Weight trick | Lighter volcanic rock (pumice) used in the upper concrete; walls thicker at the base |
The dome is decorated with coffers, sunken square panels that reduce weight. A perfect sphere would fit inside the building.
What about rain?
Rain does fall through the oculus, but the marble floor is gently curved and has drainage holes. On Pentecost, firefighters drop thousands of red rose petals through the oculus.
From temple to church
Pantheon means “of all the gods” in Greek. In AD 609, Pope Boniface IV made it a church, Santa Maria ad Martyres. That’s why it survived intact while many Roman buildings were stripped for materials.
Famous people buried inside include the painter Raphael and Italy’s first kings, Victor Emmanuel II and Umberto I.
Its influence
The Pantheon inspired buildings worldwide, including the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C., and Thomas Jefferson’s Rotunda at the University of Virginia.
For Greek temples, see the Parthenon. For Rome’s language, see what language the ancient Romans spoke.
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