Lecture 10: Hadrianic Architecture: The Pantheon, etc.

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The Pantheon

Areial View of the Pantheon.jpg (80885 bytes) Aerial view of model of Ancient Rome showing Pantheon. Note the colonnaded forecourt

Hadrian Pantheon with Agippa's Pantheon foot print.jpg (69594 bytes) Comparison of the plans of the Pantheon of Hadrian with its predecessor built by Agrippa, showing the complete transformation of the building and its reorientation. Note that despite this transformation Hadrian re-used the earlier inscription (M. AGRIPPA L. F. COS. TERTIUM FECIT = Marcus Agrippa, son of lucius, consul three times, built [this building]) on his building.

Drawing of the Pantheon.jpg (57971 bytes) Diagram of section showing proportions of the dome (diameter = height); note also the gradually thinning of the concrete of the dome as it rises to the oculus

 

Plan Section of the Pantheon.jpg (71034 bytes)

Plans on the Pantheon.jpg (60326 bytes) Plan, section and diagram of structural arches of roman brick in the concrete walls of the Pantheon

 

Inside Pantheon.jpg (78539 bytes) View of coffered dome showing the optical effects of the coffering

 

Outside Photo of the Pantheon.jpg (70882 bytes) Portico with inscription from earlier building

Pantheon Door Entrance.jpg (52647 bytes) Main entrance with coffered barrel vault

Celing Pantheon.jpg (58990 bytes) View of oculus and coffering of dome

Detail in Pantheon.jpg (70137 bytes) Aedicular niche

Detail on Pantheon Dome.jpg (69537 bytes) Detail of coffering showing the displacement upwards of the "layers" of the coffer to achieve   perspectival effects

Dome view Pantheon.jpg (75307 bytes) Eighteenth-century painting by G.P. Panini showing the scale of the interior and the effect of the disc of light cast from the oculus

Temple Pantheon Arch.jpg (67860 bytes) View of main apse. Note that the flanking Corinthian columns come forward from wall plane (unlike the other apses). The use of ressauts (entablature blocks coming forward from the wall) above them gives them great emphasis.

Inside of the Pantheon 125 AD.jpg (69808 bytes) Interior view towards main apse

 

Other Hadrianic Buildings

Gate of Hadrian Athens.jpg (74336 bytes) Gate of Hadrian, Athens, inscribed on one side "Here begins the city of Pericles" and on the other "Here begins the city of Hadrian"

Temple Olympian Zeus copy.jpg (75786 bytes) Temple of Olympian Zeus, Athens. Platform and plan late sixth century BC, begun again adopting the Corinthian order in 174 BC by Antiochos IV of Syria using the Roman architect Cossutius, finished by the Roman emperor Hadrian c.130 AD.

Temple of Venus & Rome.jpg (74925 bytes) Temple of Venus and Rome, view of remains and reconstruction

Temple of Venus on Rome Designed for Hadrian.jpg (82360 bytes) Remains of temple of Venus and Rome with Arch of Titus in the background to the left. Note that the coffered apse does not date from the original Hadrianic building.

Plan of Temple of Venus & Rome.jpg (37904 bytes) Plan of the temple of Venus and Rome. Note the unusual form of the double cella

 

Reconstruction Augustus Mausleum.jpg (117182 bytes) Reconstruction of the Mausoleum of Augustus

Rome Mausoleum Augustus.jpg (138140 bytes) Aerial photograph of remains of Mausoleum of Augustus

Statue of Augustus.jpg (63867 bytes) Emperor Augustus Circus Maximus Mousoleum of Augustus & of Hadrian.jpg (73902 bytes) Comparison of the Mausolea of Augustus (top) and Hadrian (below)

Aerial view Mausoleum of Hadrian Castel Sant'Angelo.jpg (132548 bytes) Mausoleum of Hadrian (as converted into the Castel Sant'Angelo) and Aelian Bridge

Mausoleum of Hadrian Castel Sant'Angelo.jpg (82686 bytes) View of Hadrian's mausoleum on the model of ancient Rome

Tome Cecilia Metella on Appian Way.jpg (110786 bytes) Tomb of Cecilia Metella