Bill's Aviation Log

Looking up at the famous open dome. Looks small, doesn't it? It's 14 feet across!

One of the aedicula was transformed into a tomb of the painter Raphaël, who was the first to be buried in the Pantheon. In 1515, the Florentine pope Leo X appointed Raphael responsible for antiquities. Raphael then began to study the ancient Roman monuments; he had them measured and studied in detail to be able to consider their restoration. Raphael fell in love with the Pantheon, and it was no coincidence that he asked to be buried there. Leo X granted his wish in recognition of his artistic work at the Vatican and his involvement in preserving numerous ancient monuments in Rome. In 1520 the painter Raphael, who died at only 37, was the first to be buried in the Pantheon. Just before Raphael's burial, Pope Leo X went to the Pantheon, knelt before the artist's body, took one hand, and bathed it in tears.

Raphael's Tomb. Photo from "Visit-Rome-In-Italy.com". (Great site!)

As you can see, the Pantheon is an active church. It being a church is probably what saved it after all these years.

The High Altar is at center right.

At left is the Fourth Aedicula with the sculpture of Saint Anastasio. Saint Anastasio was a Persian soldier who converted to Christianity. He discovered the Christian faith in 614 when the Persian king Khosrow II sent his army to Jerusalem. Returning to Persia, he left his military career and returned to Jerusalem, where he was converted and baptised. He became religious and was sent to Caesarea in Palestine, where he preached to the Persians. He was then arrested and asked to renounce his faith, which he refused. As his reputation as a man of faith grew among Christians, he was considered a threat to public order and was beheaded.

At right is the Fifth Aedicula with the sculpture of Saint Rasio who is represented holding the palm of martyrdom and extending his hand towards the rotunda’s centre as if leaving his shrine.

The fourth chapel of the Pantheon is located opposite its monumental front door. It houses the main altar of the church, pictured below.

On the back wall is an icon painted on wood a Roman-Byzantine panel covered in silver representing the Virgin and Child called “Madonna of St. Luke”, this icon dates from 609. However, it is a copy from the 17th Century, that is now present in the chapel.

May 19, 2024 - Classic Italy Rome: The Pantheon
After touring the Capitoline Museums and walking around down the Via dei Fori Imperiali and around the Colosseum, we had the afternoon to ourselves. But it was too late to get a Forum and Colosseum tour, and we were tired and hungry, so we took the bus back to the hotel, and went to -- Hard Rock Cafe! The Horror! Yes, we were the ugly Americans. But that bacon and cheeseburger, washed down with a beer, tasted pretty darn good!

Then we headed back out. The hotel helped us get reservations to tour the Pantheon, which we had seen from the outside earlier, but it was too late to go inside. This time we made it. We're in! I wasn't prepared for how elaborate the inside was. The Pantheon is a former Roman temple and, since AD 609, a Catholic church. It was built on the site of an earlier temple; then, after the original burnt down, the present building was ordered by the emperor Hadrian and probably dedicated c. AD 126. It is one of the best-preserved of all Ancient Roman buildings, in large part because it has been in continuous use throughout its history. Since the 7th century, it has been a church dedicated to St. Mary and the Martyrs At center right is the tomb of Raphael, the famous renaissance painter. The sculpture is of Madonna del Sasso

Looking up at the famous open dome. Looks small, doesn't it? It's 14 feet across!

But where does the rain go? It just collects on the marble floor which is deliberately sloped to let the water drain out somewhere.

Despite the timed entry tickets, the church was packed. Seven chapels and eight Aediculas decorate the interior of the Pantheon's rotunda. They were all already present when the Romans built the temple. The only difference is that following the consecration of the Pantheon as a Christian Basilica in 603, only the god of the Christians could be represented there. The bays became chapels while the aediculas containing the statues of the Roman gods were emptied. Fortunately, these changes in decoration have not profoundly modified the impression of grandeur, harmony and beauty that the Pantheon can still transmit to us when we enter it. Two chapels became burial sites for the first two kings of Italy. In front of each rotunda chapels are two Corinthian marble columns carved in antique yellow marble, porphyry or granite. In the same way, the Aediculas, empty of the Roman god's statues, have been decorated a little at a time over the centuries with paintings or sculptures.

One of the aedicula was transformed into a tomb of the painter Raphaël, who was the first to be buried in the Pantheon. In 1515, the Florentine pope Leo X appointed Raphael responsible for antiquities. Raphael then began to study the ancient Roman monuments; he had them measured and studied in detail to be able to consider their restoration. Raphael fell in love with the Pantheon, and it was no coincidence that he asked to be buried there. Leo X granted his wish in recognition of his artistic work at the Vatican and his involvement in preserving numerous ancient monuments in Rome. In 1520 the painter Raphael, who died at only 37, was the first to be buried in the Pantheon. Just before Raphael's burial, Pope Leo X went to the Pantheon, knelt before the artist's body, took one hand, and bathed it in tears. Raphael's Tomb. Photo from "Visit-Rome-In-Italy.com". (Great site!)

A statue of St. Joseph and the Holy Child. Vincenzo de Rossi. Sculpture - Marble, 1550-1560

At center is the main entrance. At right is the First Aedicula, featuring a painting by Andrea Camassei, which dates from 1638, represents the “Assumption of the Virgin”. We see the Virgin emerging from her coffin, carried by the angels to the celestial light. At left is the Eighth Aedicula, featuring a beautiful painting showing the Virgin Mary presenting her belt to Nicholas of Bari, Saint Nicholas.

As you can see, the Pantheon is an active church. It being a church is probably what saved it after all these years. The High Altar is at center right. At left is the Fourth Aedicula with the sculpture of Saint Anastasio. Saint Anastasio was a Persian soldier who converted to Christianity. He discovered the Christian faith in 614 when the Persian king Khosrow II sent his army to Jerusalem. Returning to Persia, he left his military career and returned to Jerusalem, where he was converted and baptised. He became religious and was sent to Caesarea in Palestine, where he preached to the Persians. He was then arrested and asked to renounce his faith, which he refused. As his reputation as a man of faith grew among Christians, he was considered a threat to public order and was beheaded. At right is the Fifth Aedicula with the sculpture of Saint Rasio who is represented holding the palm of martyrdom and extending his hand towards the rotunda’s centre as if leaving his shrine.

A closer look at Saint Anastasio at left.

The fourth chapel of the Pantheon is located opposite its monumental front door. It houses the main altar of the church, pictured below. On the back wall is an icon painted on wood a Roman-Byzantine panel covered in silver representing the Virgin and Child called “Madonna of St. Luke”, this icon dates from 609. However, it is a copy from the 17th Century, that is now present in the chapel.

Two kings of Italy are buried in the Pantheon: Vittorio Emanuele II and Umberto I, as well as Umberto's Queen, Margherita. The sixth chapel of the Pantheon houses the funeral monument of the King of Italy, Vittorio Emanuel II, pictured below. The tomb of Vittorio Emanuele II, who died on 9 June 1878, reads: “VITTORIO EMANUELE II PADRE DELLA PATRIA” “Victor Emmanuel II Father of the Nation”.

The Second Chapel of the Pantheon houses the tombs of the Italian King Umberto I, assassinated in Monza on July 29, 1900, and of his wife Margaret of Savoy who was the first queen of Italy. She died in 1926 and is buried here next to her husband.

Aerial view of the Pantheon.

Artist conception of the Pantheon back in the day.

A model of the Pantheon in Rome during its peak.


	Previous	Home	Next

May 19, 2024 - Classic Italy Rome: The Pantheon

May 19, 2024 - Classic Italy
Rome: The Pantheon