Pantheon Dome with Sunbeam in Rome Italy
by Alexios Ntounas
Title
Pantheon Dome with Sunbeam in Rome Italy
Artist
Alexios Ntounas
Medium
Photograph
Description
The Pantheon in Rome, Italy, is a former Roman temple with its name deriving from the Greek word Pantheion meaning “of all Gods”. Its date of construction is uncertain. Since the year 609 it has been a Catholic church (Basilica di Santa Maria ad Martyres or Basilica of St. Mary and the Martyrs).
The first thing that catches your eye once you enter the cylindrical building is the Pantheon's dome which is still the world's largest unreinforced concrete dome! The height to the oculus and the diameter of the interior circle are the same, 43 metres (142 ft). The oculus at the top of the dome was never covered, allowing rainfall through the ceiling and onto the floor.
In the photo you can see the concentric circles of square coffers of the dome while a sunbeam shines through the oculus. For the record a coffer (or coffering) in architecture is a series of sunken panels in the shape of a square, rectangle, or octagon in a ceiling. Definitely a beautiful monument worth paying a visit. No wonder why it was full of tourists all the times we were there!
Uploaded
December 8th, 2021
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