Pantheon

On Saturday morning we got to visit one of the more exciting sites in Rome: the Pantheon. After arriving at the site, we were all able to listen to a presentation by Jonah, in which he described the history and significance of the building. With the current structure built in about 118 AD under Emperor Hadrian, the Pantheon was a religious site dedicated to all of the gods. Because this is one of the most well-preserved ancient Roman buildings, many of the original columns are still standing and looks just as impressive today as it did during the reign of Hadrian. Here is a picture I took of the exterior during our visit:

Exterior of the Pantheon

As you can see in the photo, Marcus Agrippa's name is engraved above the columns. He commissioned the first building of the site, and this is Hadrian's way of showing his respect. The most impressive aspect of the building is the interior, with a rounded ceiling, which is surprising given that the exterior is squared. In the center of the ceiling is an oculus, which is a perfectly rounded opening. I was in complete awe of the architecture of the site. It's really impressive that the Romans were able to construct such a feat with primitive tools and technology. Here is a photo of the ceiling with the oculus included:

Ceiling of the Pantheon 

Like many of the impressive buildings of Rome, the Christian church claimed it and converted it into a church in the 7th century. Because of this, much of the interior decoration has been changed and is now covered in Christian artwork and relics. I was a little surprised to discover that Catholic mass is still held regularly in the Pantheon. This means that the building has been in continuous use for over a thousand years. 

Christian altar inside the Pantheon

All in all, this was an exciting visit, and one of the more awe-inducing moments of this trip.