h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A519374

This is a short article about that amazing building in Rome, the Pantheon. For over a thousand years, it held the record for the biggest dome in the world.

A nice entry. I liked it.

Constructively, I wondered which gods would sit in the alcoves - I could figure out five but seven seems too big a number unless you count the all the planets *and* the Sun and Moon.

I'd also like a bit more physical description and any info on touring it. Also do they still hold mass inside?

But like I said, it was a nice entry and I liked it.

Good one!

- X

Kudos for writing an Entry about one of the best known Roman buildings!

As a person who is addicted to Rome (I start feeling homesick when I'm away for too long), I would appreciate some additional information:

- It is an interesting detail that a building that was a "Temple for All Gods" is now a "Church for All Saints", ...

- There are several tombs inside the Pantheon: Artists, Popes, Kings, ...

- The bronze truss of the porch was taken to cast the huge columns for the canopy of S. Pietro in Vaticano, ...

Don't get me wrong: The Entry is good as it stands, but imho the Pantheon deserves a more extensive view, but that's a personal matter of taste

Jeremy

Jimi X, one theory is that the seven niches held statues of the gods of the seven planets. The Romans did count the Sun and Moon as planets along with the other five. That's where the days of the week got their names, although the names got modified on translation into English. You can see this clearest by looking at the names of the days in Italian, which is still the closest to Latin.

I have now added this theory to the article as a possibility.

Having both a statue of the sun god and the giant Oculus in the ceiling which must have also represented the sun seems to give undue importance to the sun, so I'm not entirely happy with this theory.

Jeremy, it's a while since I've been in Rome, (1981) so I don't remember exactly who is buried in the Pantheon. I was disappointed to find it with all the regalia of a Catholic Church since I hadn't heard the news of its conversion in the seventh century.

I think that I will leave the article as it stands.

The only problem with the theory is that there are only five visible planets - Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn (Uranus and Neptune were discovered with telescopes). The days of the week include Sunday and Monday (Sun-day and Moon-day).

I know the Greeks had Diana (the moon goddess) and Apollo (the sun god) and they were pretty important figures - in addition to the regular cast of characters that were tied in with the visible planets.

It's always been my belief that seven is a mystical number because it represents the number of visible things which moved across the sky. Of course, I could be talking out of my hat.

As I said before, the Greeks and Romans recognised Seven Planets, the five visible ones, the Sun and the Moon. The days of the week were named after the seven planets. This seems to be exactly what you are saying, Jimi, although you appear to be contradicting me.

Raphael's probably the most famous person buried in the Pantheon. (because I can't think of anyone else buried there )

It's definitely worth mentioning that (IIRC) the Pantheon is the only Roman (or possibly Classical) structure with an extant original roof - the square indentations you mention were part of the architectural genius of the building. These indentations were a decorative and highly practical means of decreasing the weight of the roof whilst retaining a firm and strong structure. The concrete of the dome also gets thinner the closer to the apex it gets, again to ensure that the load the walls had to carry was not too great.

Hope this helps!

OK. I agree that we're both right. I just wasn't familiar with that usage of the word 'planets' and was assuming that when you said 'planets' you meant the thingies that orbit the sun and not the ancient definition of 'wanderers' which they gave to anything that didn't behave like the background stars.

So very good - it makes sense to me now.

I've added a footnote explaining the word "planets" to get over this obvious source of confusion.

You appear to have missed my earlier posting due (I assume) to a simulpost.

Once again, I hope it helps...

I haven't missed it, NexusSeven, I've just ignored it. I wasn't going to describe the structural supports and the thickness of the dome: these are details which are hidden from view. While miracles of design, they are not immediately obvious to the visitor. But I suppose I'll have to do a bit of research now, rather than just relying on memory. (Actually a very small amount of research has been done already). Give me a day or so to work it out.

I've added a short section "Architecture" which describes the ingenious features used to lighten the dome and the cylindrical base wall.

Excellent!

Still no mention of Raphael though...

I give in! Raphael is in there now.

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