The Pantheon is a piece of Roman architecture that embodies the Roman\u2019s ability to create buildings that would seem impossible in their time.\u00a0 Constructed from 118-125 AD by Apollodorus of Damascus under the Emperor Hadrian, their had already been two beforehand (the first one under Emperor Augustus\u2019 rule).\u00a0 The Pantheon we know today was built using concrete, a Roman invention, although it is a bit different from the concrete we know today.\u00a0 Roman concrete, also referred to as opus caementicium, incorporates volcanic ash into the mixture, and has proven to be much more durable than modern versions.<\/p>\n
The Pantheon also displays the Romans love of domes, arches, and columns.\u00a0 The design itself is very Greek, and it is easy to see how much Greek architecture influenced the construction of the Pantheon.\u00a0 The infamous dome (which is actually double shelled) immediately catches your eye when you step inside.\u00a0 The most famous oculus in Rome rests in the middle, directly above the very middle of the floor.\u00a0 To accommodate weather, drainage holes are punched into the floor, and the center is slightly elevated so that any rain runs to the sides.<\/p>\n
Today, the Ancient Temple has been Christianized, and continues to hold masses at certain times.\u00a0 Most of the Pagan statues and artwork has been replaced by images of Jesus Christ or the Virgin Mary.\u00a0 The grave of Raphael rests to one side, an altar positioned straight ahead.\u00a0 The location also seems odd for such a magnificent structure; right in the middle of a modern city.\u00a0 That\u2019s just another spectacular thing about Rome, though; the blending of the modern and the ancient.<\/p>\n
Exploring Rome, Florence, and Frascati was truly an amazing experience.\u00a0 The trip home, on the other hand, not so much.\u00a0 Don\u2019t get me wrong, airplanes are amazing pieces of engineering, but once you\u2019ve been on one for ten and a half hours, you begin to rue their existence.\u00a0 Missing your connecting flight is never fun either, but luckily we got on another one fairly quickly.\u00a0 Jet lag is a whole different ordeal.\u00a0 Even sitting here writing this a few days later, I can still feel its effects, muddling my thoughts and making my movements sluggish.\u00a0 The things we do for education and adventure!<\/p>\n
These things being said, I would do it all again if it meant going back to Italy.\u00a0 The experiences I had and the memories I made will be things I keep with me forever.\u00a0 I can\u2019t thank my professors enough for giving me the opportunity to study in an environment like Rome, so rich in history and culture.\u00a0 On this trip, I got to come into contact with objects and structures thousands of years old, artwork you only read about in textbooks, people and religions from all over the world.\u00a0 These classes are two I know I\u2019ll never forget.<\/p>\n
By Peyton Macrina<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Pantheon is a piece of Roman architecture that embodies the Roman\u2019s ability to create buildings that would seem impossible in their time.\u00a0 Constructed from 118-125 AD by Apollodorus of Damascus under the Emperor Hadrian, their had already been two beforehand (the first one under Emperor Augustus\u2019 rule).\u00a0 The Pantheon we know today was built … Continue reading Analyzing the Pantheon and the Final Thoughts of my Experience in Italy<\/span>