Erected in 27 B.C. by Augustus' prime minister, Agrippa, the Pantheon is virtually intact and is not considered "ruins" like the Forum and Colosseum. It was destroyed by fire at some point but rebuilt in A.D. 126 by Emperor Hadrian. The original inscription can still be seen on the portico: "M.Agrippa L. F. Cos. Tertium Fecit" - "Built by Marcus Agrippa, son of Lucius, in his third consulship." You can see the inscription below:
Here's a wider view of the Pantheon:
The word "Pantheon" is Greek for "all gods." So the Pantheon originally was a pagan temple dedicated to the worship of all the gods.
In A.D. 609, the Pantheon was consecrated as a Catholic Church by Pope Boniface IV, with the permission of the Byzantine Emperor Phocas. It has been a Catholic church ever since, under the name of St. Mary and the Martyrs.
Inside the Pantheon, you see a truly noble hall studded with niches once graced by colossal statues of the seven planetary deities. They have been replaced by sculptures of the Virgin Mary and various saints. Also found here are the tombs of Italy's first two kings and that of the Renaissance genius, Raphael.
Of particular interest in the Pantheon is the immense dome with the "oculus" in the middle. The dome was meant to resemble the vault of the sky, the abode of the gods. Symbolically, it allowed the gods to look down from the heavens into the temple raised in their honor. The oculus is an opening in the roof 27 feet in diameter, which provides the only light and air for the windowless building.
The question is always asked, "What happens when it rains?" Well, the structure is equipped with drains in the very area where the rain falls into the church.
Below you can see the drain holes in the marble floor. You'll notice that there are no pews set up in this area!
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