Rome boasts some magnificent samples of classical architecture of the Ancient times. The Pantheon of Rome is one of the most influential constructions ever to be built.
The Pantheon was commissioned by Marcus Agrippa during the reign of Augustus (27 BC – 14 AD) and rebuilt by the emperor Hadrian about 126 AD. It has been in continuous use throughout its history, and since the 7th century, the Pantheon has been used as a Roman Catholic church dedicated to “St. Mary and the Martyrs” but informally known as “Santa Maria Rotonda.” The square in front of the Pantheon is called Piazza della Rotonda.
The Corinthian granite columns of the portico were brought from Egypt. Maybe the most spectacular aspect, the Pantheon’s dome is still the world’s largest unreinforced concrete dome, almost two thousand years after it was built. A 43.3 m diameter sphere fits under it. The oculus at the dome’s apex and the entry door are the only natural sources of light in the interior. A drainage system below the floor handles the rain that falls through the oculus. The interior is reach in geometrical decorations, circles and squares unifying the design.
Ever since the Renaissance, the Pantheon has been an inspiration for architects. Fortunately, it’s one of the best preserved constructions of the Ancient Rome, so that today we all can still turn the masterpiece of the past into a reference for the future.
References: Wikipedia
1-hour sketch using 4B pencil on A4-size paper
