See also

Project publications

Gerd Graßhoff, Michael Heinzelmann, Markus Wäfler (Eds.),The Pantheon in Rome. Contributions to the Conference Bern, November 9-12, 2006, Bern: Bern Studies, 2009
Gerd Graßhoff, Michael Heinzelmann, Nikolaos Theocharis, Markus Wäfler (Eds.), The Bern Digital Pantheon Project. Plates, Bern: Bern Studies, 2009
Jon Albers, Gerd Graßhoff, Michael Heinzelmann, Markus Wäfler (Eds.), Das Marsfeld in Rom. Beiträge der Berner Tagung vom 23./24. November 2007, Bern: Bern Studies, 2008

Project repository

The repository of the Pantheon Project is meant to provide the resarch community with all materials necessary to reassess the results published by the project.

Moreover, by publishing high resolution research data under open access the project group wants to stimulate further research on the Pantheon and roman architecture in general.

Take a closer look

The Bern Digital Pantheon Model

Isometric projection, facing south-east.

In the course of two separate campaigns that took place in 2005 and 2007, scientists from the University of Bern carried out a building survey of the Pantheon in Rome using the latest laser scanning technology: a Leica HDS3000 three-dimensional long-range laser scanner. The scanning resolution was specified at 0.01 metres for a distance of 20 metres; this resolution was necessary in order to obtain precise measurement points without expending too much data space. The mean maximal margin of error was 0.005 metres. By using the special scanning software Cyclone, sub-scans from the two campaigns were merged to create a point cloud of the entire Pantheon.

Read more: The Bern Digital Pantheon Model

 

Structure

Cutaway isometric projection, facing south-east.

Today the Hadrianic Pantheon consists of a Corinthian octostyle pronaos/porticus, an intermediate corpus and the domed rotunda. In antiquity, a rectangular forecourt on the Pantheon's northern side surrounded by a three-sided porticus completed the building complex. Originally, the south, east and west sides of the rotunda were flanked by other buildings: on the south side, a building possibly known as the Basilica of Neptun was erected during the building time of the Pantheon, on the east side the back walls of the Saepta Iulia reached the outer face of the rotunda. Thus, in antiquity only the northern façade of the building was visible.

Read more: Structure

 

History of the Pantheon

Upper parts of the Pantheon and pediments, facing south (photo: G. Graßhoff)

The Pantheon was built by the Emperors Traian and Hadrian during the years AD 113-118/125. It replaced an older "Pantheon", which was constructed by consul Marcus Agrippa between 27-25 BC as part of the Augustean building programme for a monumental renewal of the city of Rome. The first Pantheon was probably destroyed or at least heavily damaged in the great fire of AD 80. It was then replaced or restored by Emperor Domitian but was struck by lightning in AD 110, after which a completely new building was required.

Read more: History