A miracle in terms of ancient architecture, the Pantheon's dome is the world's largest unreinforced concrete dome. Still today, almost 2000 years after its construction, the breathtaking Pantheon is a remarkable building to see.
In fact, the current monument is the third Pantheon, constructed nearly 200 years after Marcus Vispanius Agrippa commissioned the original in 25-27 BC. Though studies are continuing to reveal more about the original Pantheon, much of its history, usage, and architecture are still left unknown.
The oldest building standing in Rome is the temple of Hercules Victor and dates back to the second century BC and today represents the oldest building in Rome still standing. This temple is sometimes still referred to as the Temple of Vesta and the error is due to its circular shape which makes it similar […]
Göbekli Tepe is an archaeological site of a temple in Southeastern Turkey and has been dated back to 9500 - 8000 BCE. This date was discovered by carbon dating old tools found during excavations. This building is in fact the oldest structure on earth that we have found to date.
The earliest masonry dome, the Pantheon, was so heavy that engineers carved intricate shapes, called coffers, along the walls to reduce the weight of the enormous structure. They also gouged a hole, called an oculus, at the top, which created a daily light show for which the Pantheon is still famous.
The Colosseum, Rome, ItalyA little older than The Pantheon, Rome's most famous classical ruin is unmissable – especially now that they have extended the visitor route to the underfloor passageways through which gladiators and wild beasts made their entrances.
Most of the buildings remaining on the Acropolis today were built as part of Perciles' massive building program in the middle of the 5th century BC. However, many were not finished until after his death in 429 BC.
In ancient Greek religion and mythology, the twelve Olympians are the major deities of the Greek pantheon, commonly considered to be Zeus, Poseidon, Hera, Demeter, Aphrodite, Athena, Artemis, Apollo, Ares, Hephaestus, Hermes, and either Hestia or Dionysus.
The most fascinating part of the Pantheon is its giant dome, with its famous hole in the top (The eye of the Pantheon, or oculus). The dome was the largest in the world for 1300 years and to present remains the largest unsupported dome in the world. Its diameter is 43.30 meters (or 142 ft.)
The Byzantine Emperor Phocas (602-610), who became Emperor by killing the previous occupant, came to Rome in 608 from the East to check out the old country. He was unimpressed and gave the Pantheon to the Catholic Church for free, who owns it still to this day, on this basis.