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🏛 Pantheon (the Temple of all ancient Roman gods) is the most mysterious symbol of the Eternal City, the exact date of its construction is unknown. Its main feature is a giant concrete dome, made without special reinforcement, 43.3 meters in diameter. It rests exclusively on walls.
🏛 In the center of the dome there is an only aperture – the oculus (there are no other windows), through which the sunlight enters the building. A clever lighting trick is played out on 21 April, the founding date of Rome. At midday the sunlight hits the metal grille above the door, filling the entrance way with light.
🏛This would have illuminated the emperor in ancient times, reflecting his status as a god on earth. Some scientists believe that the structure served as a giant sundial, which, however, demonstrated the divine nature of the imperial power. The monument of the ancient architecture has survived the centuries almost intact.
🏛 The marble interior decoration is also original, such as floors, which have not been rubbed in 2000 years. The structure has 16 columns, each weighs 60 tons. They were ferried from Egypt, and this is more than 2200 km of sea route across the Mediterranean Sea.
🏛 The Pantheon was conceived not only as a pagan temple, which was later converted into a Christian church of St. Mary and the Martyrs, but also as a mausoleum. It is the final resting place of some notable people, including the first two kings of unified Italy, Vittorio Emanuele II and his son Umberto I who is placed in front of his wife Queen Margherita of Savoy (for whom pizza margherita was named). The tomb of renowned painter Raphael is also found here.
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