The Pantheon: Meaning & 7 Fascinating Facts

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What Does Pantheon Mean?

Pantheon is a Greek word that translates as “all the Gods”. Pan in Greek means 'all' (think 'pandemic') while theon means 'gods', meaning that Pantheon is a compound that translates as 'all the gods'.

This is why academics believe that the Pantheon was one of the most important temples in Rome — on a par with the Temple of the Capitoline Triad since it wasn’t dedicated to one God, but all of them.

Today the Pantheon serves as a church. It was gifted In the year 609 by the emperor to Pope Boniface IV who consecrated it as St Mary and the Martyrs.

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The Pantheon as viewed from Piazza della Rotonda

The Pantheon Burnt Down not Once but Twice

Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, a Roman statesman and architect, constructed the first Pantheon between 25-27 BCE on his property in the Campus Martius. His original Pantheon was built largely from wood and burned down twice before the emperor Hadrian came along and constructed the marvel that we see today, using mainly stone, brick and self-healing Roman concrete.

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Relief of Marcus Agrippa on Rome’s Trevi Fountain

Hadrian is believed to have constructed the third and final Pantheon between 125 and 127 CE although we cannot be sure of the exact year because he did not leave a date. Instead of inscribing his name on the building, Hadrian left the earlier dedication from Agrippa's Pantheon. (Modest by him, unhelpful for archaeologists!) The bricks used to build the Pantheon date from 118 to 125 CE, something we know because of the brick stamps citing the consulship year or reigning emperor at the time.

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Pantheon view from inside

It Houses the Tombs of Rome’s Elite

Inside you will find the tombs of some important figures in Roman and Italian history. The first king of Italy, Vittorio Emanuele II (after whom the Vittoriano monument is named) his son King Umberto, Umberto’s wife Princess Margherita, and the famous Renaissance painter Raphael are all buried inside the Pantheon.

In 2020, a rose was laid upon the tomb of Raphael to commemorate the 500th anniversary of his death. His marble sarcophagus carries the inscription:

“Here lies Raphael, by whom nature herself feared to be outdone while he lived, and when he dies, feared that she herself would die."

ILLE HIC EST RAPHAEL, TIMVIT QVO SOSPITE VINCI RERVM MAGNA PARENS, ET MORIENTE MORI

The Pantheon's Oculus is a Manmade Wonder

Remarkably, the Pantheon is still open to the skies, and the Oculus, the technical term for the perfect circle, 8.2 metres (27 feet) in diameter in the roof, is the means through which light enters. Although nearly 2000 years old the Pantheon still holds the record for the largest unreinforced dome in the world as of 2025! When it rains the water passes through the Oculus to the floor of the Pantheon where an intricate ancient design of slight inclinations and drainage holes channels the water away. 

The Pantheon’s iconic oculus

You Could Fit a Perfect Sphere Inside

The Pantheon's interior structure forms the shape of a cylindrical base supporting an enormous dome, and you could fit a sphere with a diameter of 43.3 metres (142ft) perfectly inside. While the relationship between a sphere and a cylinder was a famous mathematical discovery by Archimedes, there is no direct evidence that it influenced the Pantheon’s design.

Detailed architectural blueprint and cross-section design of the historic Pantheon showcasing ancient Roman engineering and construction techniques featured in Carpe Diem Tours Rome educational experiences

Architectural blueprint of the Pantheon

The Pantheon Survives Because it was Converted into a Church

Throughout the Roman Empire, the Pantheon functioned as a pagan temple. Then, in 609 CE, the Byzantine emperor Phocas gifted the Pantheon to Pope Boniface IV who swiftly converted the city's most beautiful pagan temple and consecrated it as the Christian Basilica of Santa Maria ad Martyrs.

Ironically, being converted into a church played a significant part in preserving this pagan monument. Rome's ancient and medieval population constantly recycled building materials from ancient structures, making use of what was already lying around rather than sourcing new marble from the faraway quarry of Carrara. Fearing for their souls, however, made Rome's Christian population far less inclined to steal from churches.

The Pantheon didn’t escape entirely untouched, however. In 663, the emperor Constans II stripped the Pantheon of its bronze roof tiles, which he shipped back to the new imperial capital of Constantinople, and in the 17th century, Pope Urban VIII removed bronze from the Pantheon's portico for cannons for Castel Sant'Angelo and Bernini's Baldachin in St. Peter’s Basilica. Since Pope Urban VIII was from the Barberini family, this led to the famous saying among the Romans: "Quod non fecerunt barbari, fecerunt Barberini"—"What the barbarians didn’t do was done by the Barberini."

But the Pantheon fared better than most monuments of the Roman Empire (though this shouldn't put you off taking an immersive tour of the Colosseum and Roman Forum). 😉  

The Pantheon is Ancient Rome's Best-Preserved Building

The Pantheon has suffered fewer conspicuous alterations over nearly 2000 years than all other ancient Roman buildings. Its bronze roof tiles have been removed, its portico's bronze beams stripped away, and its pagan statues replaced with catholic frescoes and altars. But the Pantheon's marble flooring is completely original and even features some of the world’s most valuable stone Red Egyptian Porphyry.

The Pantheon's Portico was Completely Covered in Bronze

Now a pale marble hue, the portico’s roof was once covered in gilded bronze tiles, which glowed under the Roman sun. The Pantheon's dome was never fully bronze-clad itself, but its original smooth stucco finish may have given it a striking appearance in antiquity.

Group of tourists exploring the historic Pantheon exterior during Carpe Diem Tours Rome by Day walking tour showcasing ancient Roman architecture and cultural heritage

Outside the Pantheon on Carpe Diem’s Rome by Day Walking Tour

Visiting Rome? Let's Explore Together

Discover Rome on a Walking Tour 🏛

Step into the pages of history with our Rome Walking Tours. Immerse yourself in the picturesque surroundings of Piazza Navona, the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain, the Temple of Hadrian, the Pantheon and more — all led by an expert guide who brings the city’s past to life.

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Skip the Lines & Step Onto the Colosseum Arena

Stand where gladiators once battled and enter the Colosseum through the exclusive Gladiator’s Gate. This small-group tour grants you special access to the arena floor, plus a guided exploration of the Roman Forum & Palatine Hill—the heart of Ancient Rome.

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ℹ️ Pro-tip: Visiting in summer? Opt for a morning or evening tour for cooler temperatures.

Taste the Best of Rome on a Trastevere Food Tour 🍝

Skip the tourist traps and discover Rome’s best-loved dishes, from crispy supplì and porchetta to freshly made pasta and artisanal gelato. Sip on local wines as you explore Trastevere, Rome’s most charming foodie district.

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Master Pasta & Tiramisù in a Hands-On Cooking Class 👨‍🍳

Take home more than just memories—learn to cook authentic fresh pasta and tiramisù in an interactive cooking class in the heart of Rome. A professional Italian chef will guide you every step of the way, with plenty of prosecco to toast your success!

🥂 For couples & friends, try a Spritz & Spaghetti Class, where cocktails meet classic Italian cuisine.

➡️ Join a Pasta & Tiramisù Cooking Class
➡️ Enjoy a Private Pasta-Making Experience

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Alexander Meddings
Check iconVerified Writer
Alexander Meddings is a professional copywriter and postgraduate in Roman history from the University of Oxford. After graduating with his MPhil, he moved to Florence and then Rome to carry out his research on the ground and pursue his passion at the source. He now works in travel, as a writer and content consultant, and in education as a university lecturer and translator.
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