Of the many wonderful ancient buildings in Rome, the Pantheon is the one that has remained virtually intact over thousands of years. There is no other building the size, age or scope of the Pantheon that has kept the integrity of its original design so well. You cannot discount this amazing power of preservation to luck It is clearly a phenomenal feat of engineering.
Many designers have copied and even equalled the amazing design of this building, but none have done better at introducing true innovation in architecture as the Pantheon did. This is even more phenomenal when you take into account that the building was designed in 125 AD under the Roman emperor Hadrian.
The heart of the design genius is as simple as it is elegant. It simply employs a circular construction with a rectangular entrance. That entrance displays all the characteristics of a Greet portico that utilizes a triangular pediment that perches atop granite columns. The Corinthian supporting columns are arranged with eight 39 foot supports at the front of the gateway, and two sets of four supports that the visitor passes through before entering the circular rotunda of the Pantheon proper. Then the rectangular design is used to link this portico design to the rotunda.
This design seems amazingly simple but under scrutiny you find dozens of examples of pure genius.
For example, the massive dome of concrete that is on top of the round central component is of such elegant design and of such high quality of construction that anything less in the design of this dome would have collapsed under its own weight.
That dome is nothing short of massive. At 142 feet in diameter, the Pantheon dome is 46 feet larger than the dome over the White House. At the crown of the dome there is an opening known as the oculus that is 25 feet across. The fact that the dome does not compromise the building and continues to survive after 2000 year is in part due to the design of that oculus and the composition of the dome.
That oculus which is the opening at the top of the dome is one of the many elegant design features that have kept the Pantheon intact for so long. That simple 25 foot opening reduces the weight of the dome and the perfect ring of its circumference distributes the stress of the weight perfectly so it rests on the base without undue stress on any one support.
Along with helping to keep the dome aloft, the oculus allows in a soft natural light which illuminates the interior beautifully. It also allows in rain, but the designers planned the slope of the floor so water flows naturally away from the center to a drainage system in the perimeter so a sprinkle does not create a significant problem.
The way the weight of dome tapers from base to peak is yet another demonstration of the genius of the designers. Starting at 20 feet of thickness at the base of the dome, the structure tapers down to a mere 7.5 feet at the oculus. In addition the materials used in the dome are heavier at the base and lighter near the top. This is again a simple but powerful design decision that has helped the Pantheon stand as long as it has. And that genius is even more amazing when you consider that the design genius of the Pantheon was ignored by future designers for 1000 years before later generations began to understand the brilliance of that design.
The outcome is that now over 2000 years from when the Pantheon was built in Rome, it is just as solid as any new building in the city. Consider as well that this construction plan was executed without the use of high technology or modern tools and machines we take for granted in our modern age.
Furthermore, the Pantheon engineering team had to bring off this brilliant plan without any sophisticated transpiration resources. That means that everything used in the creation of the building was floated in on the Tiber River and then slowly and laboriously moved by carts to the site using sheer muscle power of men and animals.
Just as amazing are the huge bronze doors of the building. They have been restored to their usual beauty often but they have never shown any need to have any structural work done on them. This is really a marvel considering the Pantheon is built on soft marsh lands.
A good comparison in terms of amazing longevity of the Pantheon is the Leaning Tower of Pisa which seems to need virtually continuous effort to support and maintain that structure. Much of the reason for the troubles of that tower is the marshy ground under the construction. Another great building that was built at the same time as the Pantheon in Rome is the Parthenon in Greece and it is for all intents and purposes a wreck 2000 years after it was built.
In the 8th century, the Roman Pantheon was converted to be used as a church. And unlike buildings of similar age that are carefully left untouched, the Pantheon continues to serve as a church to this very day. Since it was built in the first century, the Pantheon has never known a time when it was not in constant use.
It is such a design marvel that the Pantheon has become a template for great engineering for numerous modern projects including the University of Virginia's Thomas Jefferson Rotunda and the British Museum Reading Room.
But it is always good to admire the original design on display in the Roman Pantheon.
About the Author:
The Spanish Steps are one of the great tourist attractions in Rome. Tourists flock to experience the magic and magnificence they weave. Here's some great tips for getting the most out of your visit.
Introducing Top Draw
Introducing Top Draw
0 comments:
Post a Comment