Pantheon

a famous temple of ancient Rome. It is the largest inclosed building of antiquity. It is trifle larger than the dome of St. Peter's. It was erected by Agrippa about 25 B. C. It was dedicated to all the gods, as the name signifies. The building is circular in shape. The base is 182 feet in diameter. The interior space is hemispherical. It is covered by a dome of circular masonry 142 feet in span, said to be the largest unsupported cupola known in architecture. The top is 141 feet above the pavement. Light is admitted by openings at the apex only. To carry so heavy a dome the walls are of unusual thickness. They contain a number of chapels within themselves. The Pantheon was used as a place of Christian worship for many centuries. It is still standing in a state of excellent preservation. See St. Peter's.