Why hasn't the Pantheon's dome collapsed?
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- Опубликовано: 9 июн 2024
- An in-depth look at the construction of Rome’s Pantheon and its famous concrete dome.
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Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
0:28 The purpose of the Pantheon
1:16 The design
1:58 Roman concrete
2:32 Quarries, contractors, and workforce
4:02 Foundations
4:44 Building the walls
5:41 Relieving arches and buttresses
6:35 Masterworks
8:08 Building the dome
9:51 The portico
10:54 Decoration
12:32 Insane Emperors, Sunken Cities, and Earthquake Machines
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Rain falling through the oculus is glorious. The guards set up a cordon of velvet ropes under the oculus, the rain sparkles in the light as it falls, and makes the marble floor bounce a lot of light. There are drain holes in the floor to catch the rain. It's extraordinary.
Yes. Was lucky enough to visit on a lightly rainy day. Gorgeous
I've been wondering about the oculus! Thank you.
that sounds amazing, thank you :)
One of my professors, who would make a yearly trip to Rome, said the best time to visit the Pantheon was during a thunderstorm, rare as that might be for the casual visitor (he usually stayed months, ie a semester) the effect of thunder when you’re inside the Pantheon is unlike any other ‘architectural’ experience
That's really interesting. I've been there twice, both on sunny days. Ive always wondered what happens during rain. For, you know, 2000 years. Thank you.
This was one of the most incredible buildings I've ever walked into.
The thing about it is it's the only, as far as know, almost complete Roman interior... you actually see what the ancients saw inside something, rather than just an outside.
For my whole life I had wanted to visit The Pantheon and when I finally did, it exceeded my expectations. But two weeks later I visited Hagia Sophia, which moved me even more than the Pantheon, its scale and history is a level above even the Pantheon.
Damn I never walked in it
Hope that wasn’t too painful
@@Dave_Sissoni got to see the Hagia Sofia and the Pantheon roughly 35 years apart. Both are triumphs of human dignity. The Pantheon was my favorite.
I was there in April and was lucky enough to visit while it was raining. The rain falling through the oculus made for a mystical atmosphere. I’m not religious but looking up a seeing the rain falling gave the building a divine feel. It’s the most beautiful building inside I’ve ever seen
It's on my bucket list. For its beauty, its ties to Agrippa (best wingman in history; a real renaissance man of countless talents) and above all else, it's technical achievements.
I pray that it rains when I'm there if I ever go which is unlikely.
I wonder, is there a wait to get in? Is it crowded when it rains?
I helped pay for my then-girlfriend (now ex-wife) to spend a semester in Italy while in Architecture Graduate school. Outside of Florence (where her study abroad was headquartered) this was probably the highlight.
She was amazed that I knew what the inscription referred to. I was amazed that she didn't know who Agrippa was! I assumed he had built it. And he did... but not the one we see.
Trajan must've really respected the original building and its architect to keep his name there.
It was amazing…. So was the gelato shop shop at the top of the hill and to the right!!!
Just imagine how the other Roman buildings must've been... All the glorious architectures humanity lost for ever...
@@burtan2000 it’s an incredible building with an incredible history. There is normally a bit of a line to get in but it moves very quickly. Probably around a 30 minute wait typically. We went on a Sunday and needed to reserve a time in advance so we got in in just a few minutes. It was not terribly crowded but there was a Christian mass going on while I was there. It made it even more interesting to see modern worshippers in this ancient spiritual temple.
If you can get there I highly recommended it and Rome in general. If you’re a big fan of Roman history it’s incredible to walk through the city and recognize different places and buildings connected to infamous events and people you’ve learned about. Rome feels like a magical place
There is absolutely nothing divine about this sacrilegious building!
Going into the Pantheon in the early hours of the morning last year will stick with me forever. There wasn't a line or anything, the place only had like 20 people in it at most. The sense of scale and the history of it is baffling. I was in awe of everything, from the pristine floor tiles to the aperture itself; the fact that the exterior of the building, especially from the back and side, look pretty decayed but when you go inside it just feels impossibly timeless. The fact that this building has remained so well preserved (with the exception of the bronze) is a testament to Rome and her people. Truly the most incredible building in the most incredible city I have ever visited.
It’s beautiful because it’s free entry (was😢) and so there aren’t lines anybody can (not anymore) go in and out whenever
Try this go to mut yen where the japanese put in a cable car to the great wall.. Then be lucky to have a local that worked for ex tell 2 of us to follow her.. Me and Li did just that.. we jogged ran to where the great wall is original. plants etc growing out of stones, its falling apart.. To actually stand climb on the original great wall blew my mind.. Thats why she wanted us to follow her.. In my 30s it was a long jog fast walk.. No way at 65/// did you know the great wall has been refaced with new stones? A real rip off fake.. I still have it burned into my memory.. out of 30 peoples only li and i did it plus the local worker for at&t.. wow is an understatement..
How much more majestic it would seem without modern buildings near it.
I live near Rome, every time i visit the city centre i try to visit the Pantheon if the waiting line isn’t too long. I must have been inside more than a dozen time, saw mass being celebrated inside it, and even saw the beautiful spectacle of the rose petals that are thrown from the Oculus during Pentecost. And still every time i go inside it it never fails to lift up mi spirit. Such a masterpiece.
I didn’t remember being particularly impressed as a teenager when visiting, but 20 years later I almost cried in awe. It’s literally breathtaking. The dome looks incredibly modern and timeless. I can’t comprehend how incredibly skilled Roman engineers were 2000 years ago 🤯
I made it…
It's a good day today
Ok Ice Cube
Me and my wife went to the coliseum and were left cold. We walked into the Pantheon and were instantly impressed without really knowing why. It’s marvellous
English Lesson; My wife and I...is correct.
@@robertgiles9124 piss off, thanks. Your lol doesn’t cover it
@@robertgiles9124well, if you're going to be pedantic, your sentence should read 'English lesson: "my wife and I" is correct.'
@@yippee8570 But I didn't quote someone, I merely wrote the comment correctly looks who the pedantic crow is now, hypocrite.
You didn’t get anything from the colosseum? Sounds like you’re pretty lame
I remember walking with my friends down the street and seeing the Pantheon around the corner. It was majestic and breathtaking, it made all the Latin we were learning worth it. We were still classical lyceum students.
Some time later I went to Rome alone. When I saw it again it was the same magic. Great video!
What I find the most fascinating about the Pantheon is not only that is the only ancient Roman building still standing mostly intact but also that by visiting it we can have an ideea of how fantastic all the other monumental buildings of ancient Rome must have been. And in the same time it can make the visitor feel a bit sad that is the only one so well preserved. We can only imagine what an experience a visit in Rome might have been if more of them (if not all) would have been as well preserved as the Pantheon.
Imagine Saint Sophia in Constantinople....sadly lost...the bloody turks destroyed almost everything in New Rome 😢
I went to the Pentecostal mass in yhe Pantheon. At the end of the service, thousands of rose petals came down through the oculus. It was astonishingly beautiful and affecting.
I am glad I got to see the Pantheon
in person… it is worth the effort !!!
The Pantheon's doom has not collapsed because the contract was not awarded to the lowest bidder.
The architect was on the board of Boeing the wing God of war
No other building can take your breath away when you enter, like the Pantheon.
The mind boggles wondering how they got all that concrete up there, bearing in mind the street level was 20 feet lower, back in antiquity.
You fill it all with sand, create the dome then slowly remove the sand finishing all the underside of the dome and walls as you go down ..same way they tackled 13th century gothic cathedral
@@oftin_wong We build some bridges that way even today.
@@peterjszerszen good ideas never go out of fashion
Visit India.your idea will Change
@@peterjszerszenNever heard of using a sand mold to build any bridge... Sounds insane.
I was impressed by the fact that the portico’s roof was constructed of solid bronze trusses and ‘tiles’. When you consider how bronze is comprised of metal from disparate parts of the Roman world and how precious this material was to previous cultures, the fact that they could use this material on such a vast scale simply to make the roof fireproof (finally) speaks to the staggering wealth, power, and organization of the Classical Roman world.
Good point. Back then, they would have had to ship tin from northwest Iberia, and it was still a very rare mineral-so much so that they depleted the tin deposits there and had to move on to British sources during the Dominate period. The next nearest major deposit would have been in Afghanistan. Even today, tin is about $2.15/lb. Steel is ~$0.50/lb.
The Glory of Rome still astounds and astonishes us, 2000+ years later.
And only a tiny percentage of the Golden Age of Rome still remains.
The greatest regret I see today is how many people foolishly dismiss our ancestors as dumb, simply because they didn’t have iphones and such.
Our predecessors were far more aware of the Spiritual aspect of nature, while we have abandoned the spiritual for the material.
@@steviechampagne the Romans were definitely materialistic.
@@42468 you can also use
lead
Silicone
Arsenic
Magnesium
Zinc
Manganese
To make bronze ...not tin alone
The first bronze was accidentally made just by smelting copper ore which had naturally occuring traces of arsenic in it ..that's how they twigged on
Well, they probably just did what the Rhodians did. Win a big battle, then melt all of the defeated enemies weapons and armor down and recast them to make a cool monument. The Romans were always looking for ways to one up the Greeks.
It’s truly amazing to me how few people know about Trajan. Everyone has heard of Julius Caesar, Augustus, Brutus, Nero, Caligula, and Hadrian but for some person the guy that ruled and expanded the Empire at its absolute peak is mostly forgotten.
I walk around and around Trajan's column to try to follow the story
@@Cal-cf2vo it’s on my bucket list to see, sadly I’ve had 3 trips to Rome planned that have been cancelled because one reason or another. Fingers crossed next year is the year.
That's so sad. I hope you get to go! I decided to go on a whim last April, and I booked my flight and two weeks later I was there. Best decision I made this year, haha@@tarn1135
I saw the pantheon on a school trip to Italy. It was an amazing sight to behold: the outside was ancient and well worn but the inside newly decorated. It was a pretty substantial building, yet a bit smaller than I had imagined it in my mind. No tour either, you can just walk right in and hang out if you want to. I enjoyed Rome, and recommend everyone visit the Eternal City at least once, if possible.
The secret to Roman concrete is that it is made with tufa as a component of the mix. The interesting thing about Roman concrete is that it is self healing…this is likely why the building has lasted so long (other than it’s design) small cracks that might allow water to infiltrate and cause post freeze spalling or rust interior staples, healed over and defended the structure. Larger cracks are most likely due to earthquake damage. Also, concrete is placed not poured despite what one might think.
Another interesting thing about the Pantheon is that it’s orientation is such that the oculus frames the place in the sky where “Caesar’s Comet” appeared in the sky. I wrote a long research presentation about the Pantheon, it’s well worth your time to read up on it.
What’s the name of the paper?
Surely any hole directly up would therefore frame that part of the sky? Or do you from a specific and significant vantage within the main chamber itself?
Can you site any authoritative paper that explains how the dome was constructed? Namely what was the process, especially the form work (if any). I have seen some info but none I have seen says to me we could do it that way today if we wanted to construct a dome exacting as this one was done. It’s an enigma. Please reply.
Can you site any authoritative paper that explains how the dome was constructed? Namely what was the process, especially the form work (if any). I have seen some info but none I have seen says to me we could do it that way today if we wanted to construct a dome exacting as this one was done. It’s an enigma. Please reply.
@@dansmith5280there is a surprising lack of documentation of construction on many of these old world structures.
Best channel on RUclips! hands down!
In my opinion The Pantheon is the most beautiful building in the world!
Roma Vincis....Rome is civilization
Your next video should be about how ancient Romans and Greeks handled weather. Not natural disasters like earthquakes and blizzards but normal everyday weather. Like they didn’t have AC or central heating so how did they survive hot summers and cold winters? How was life when it started raining? How did they handle snow?
It would be interesting to see this in more depth. When you mention snow, it reminds me how I've heard that the Greeks and Romans had a sort of "fridge" where snow could be kept for putting into drinks much like how we put ice in our drinks today. I believe the snow is mentioned in Trimalchio's dinner from the Satyricon?
You need to research climate in Rome. The average daily temperature never approaches freezing. Contrary to false climate propaganda alarmist lies about modern global warming it is accepted fact that ancient Rome was about 2 deg C warmer than today and made life even more conducive to human existence.
@@kannermwthe climate is ever changing. The earth goes from periods of glacial maximums to glacial minimums. Yes it was warm for the Romans. However to deny human accelerated climate change doesn’t exist is ignorant at best or vile at worst. Every year the temperature record is smashed, every year we have new record freak weather. In my country of Australia we have had one of the biggest fires ever in terms of HA burnt. It was unusual in the areas that burnt as well compared to most other bush fires of similar sizes. Then two years later in my local area we had the biggest flood ever recorded. These are personal anecdotes but every single bit of science backs it up, the only scientists who don’t are in the fossil fuel industries back pocket. I beg that you do some actual research and not believe whatever right wing talking heads media you consume.
@@jacksonconstable8331 Sea levels have risen 400 feet since last ice age without man-made CO2 effect. To suggest the earth is regulated by some ideal magical thermostat is lunacy. Similarly mankind's existence prior to fossil fuels was tenuous at best. The greatest issue affecting mankind is global overpopulation and resource depletion.
During last ice age much of northern hemisphere was uninhabitaible covered in ice and snow and glaciers up to a mile thick. Now with 8 billion people on the planet and modern tech natural disasters are documented, observed, and impacting the many more humans. That is statistical, probability not climate change phenomenon.
You should really worry about next global conflict (nuclear), monetary collapse due to failed government policies, super volcano, or asteroid strike. These events are more likely with far more drastic results than any exaggerated global warming effect.
@@jacksonconstable8331 Bush fires have been a common thing in Austria for so long that some plants like eucalyptus have evolved to need fire to grow.
Walking up to and then inside this building forced me into an experience I had never had. Overloaded my mind with amazement and questions and excitement. It was almost scary. Absolutely incredible
I went to Rome and ate every meal in front of the pantheon for 4 days straight. Walked in easily when there were no crowds. Just amazing.
Congrats on the new book! Sounds good.
Here's hoping...
there is one "replica" in Old Montreal. it's the Bank of Montreal built in 1847. we had to study it for art history class. very cool!
The Pantheon is my personal favorite of all the remaining Roman relics.
And how cool would it be that we are still building structures like this!!! The buildings would be so beautiful everywhere!!!
I was there it is very impressive. The stone floor inside the doorway is visibly grooved from 2000 years of foot traffic.
Thank you, very much. Nicely done & presented. Definitely learned a few things. 🙂
Being an architecture student back in 2013 and learning about the Pantheon was life changing, I always dreamed about visiting it, and it finally happened in 2017.
I traveled to Italy to meet my grandma's family, and one day we had the chance to visit Rome, there we paid for a tour on a bus, I was angry because the bus would travel to all the famous touristic sites, EXCEPT the Pantheon, when I realized that, I left the bus on the closest point to the Pantheon and walked there myself. My family didn't understand why I was so determined to see it, but they followed anyways.
It was everything I was hoping and much more, really a life changing experience!
Yes I visited the Colosseum, Vatican, and many other places during that trip, but nothing quite matched the Pantheon. I could only imagine how breathtaking it looked back in it's prime!
I took like, 100 pictures (some panoramic), HD videos, I felt like a kid visiting Disney World for the first time, I had a smile the whole time. lol
.…studied Art for Grades 9 & 10. There was one picture in my Art Textbook which absolutely enthralled me, not only for its’ beauty, & symmetry, but probably because it reminded me of the late, great US actor Charlton Heston, as a charioteer, in film, ‘Ben-Hur’.
The bronze statue was the ‘Charioteer of Delphi’, & I went to Delphi Museum in 1982, & SAW it! It was beyond my expectations’, & I thought it was very beautiful. The look on his face, the drape of his tunic, looking like an Ionic column. It was mind-blowing to me, & I was so thankful for the opportunity to see it ‘live’. Totally unforgettable!
Once your family saw it after following you, were they happy that they followed you?
Awesome video. Aw man, I’m so excited for the new book!
Many things impressed me in Rome, but the Pantheon and the Victor Emmanuel II Monument impressed me the most.
Dr. Garrett looks mighty tiny in comparison to the building. He looms much larger in my opinion of his work. Thanks! Dave J (ETA: Totally buying the Commodores story! A friend of mine actually toured with them many years ago, played keyboards.)
This one building literally took my breath away. It is awesome.
Good job. Excellent information and presentation. Thanks and God bless you and your family. 😊
Very good video, as always !
I’m pre~ordering your new book today !
I am very excited for the announcement of your new book. You are a very insightful historian. Thanks. P. s. : by-the-bye, I have again enjoyed your short film on Baie. What a melancholic visit! You should read Italian Hours by Henry James.
It's one of my favorite books about Italy. I especially like the chapter about riding in the Campagna.
Visiting the Pantheon is an experience every visitor to Rome should have. It is beyond all expectation and takes the breath away.
Congratulations on the new book!
Thanks!
I love your content. My go-to videos to listen to during my work breaks. Is it possible for you to do a video about Washington DC and the Roman inspiration of the architecture and layout of the city? It be pretty cool since people like to compare the US with the Roman Empire as the modern counterpart.
Garrett,
Do you know if the marble floor there today is the original floor? I’ve always wanted to know ever since I visited.
Thanks, still love your channel, keep up the good work.
Most parts of the floor have been restored at least once, but the same decorative scheme has always been preserved.
@@toldinstone ah, yes, the ship of thesius in decorative mozaic form
Many thanks for the video...as always.. wonderful 👍
Congratulations and much good fortune with the new book.
Great episode! And I'll be on the lookout for the book.
He actually makes learning interesting
I’m getting that book 100% you’re last book was a fantastic read. And worth every penny I guarantee. Keep up the great work Dr. Ryan!!!
Well, one does not build such a structure from scratch. There had to be engineering expertise and knowledge in order to pull this off. I've been in the Pantheon multiple times and marvel both at its structure and its ability to survive. It deserves to be one of the wonders of the world from ancient times.
That building's stacked, and that's a fact.
The book-matched marble interior was absolutly stunning. Those niches generally featured two large pieces, cut from a single slab and opened like a book to create a symetrical marble pattern - incredible craftsmanship. And you say the craftsmen were slaves and the laborers were free... 🤔
You are suggesting that the building has settled and the fact that the floor slopes from the high point in the center of the room to the surrounding wall as evidence of this, but I've always understood this to have been an intentional design feature both to drain rainwater away and to poetically suggest the curvature of the earth.
The large bronze doors to the cella, at the Pantheon in Rome measure 4.45 metres (14.6 ft) wide by 7.53 metres (24.7 ft) high and are the oldest in Rome. The present version, which has survived almost 2000 years, was built by Hadrian between 118-128 AD
Spending my time at construction sites, this must be amazing program. Hats of to them!
Finally a new book(!) to make Michigan proud of you all over again.
I fell in love with the Pantheon the first time I saw it. I loved your first book and am so excited for your second. Is there anyway you would sign my collection once I have your second book?
Thank you! I hope to do at least one book signing event here in Chicago this October.
The cover illustration of your new book is great!
I would LOVE to see the Pantheon one day! Thanks for this interesting info!
Im glad we got a Garrett for scale, if I had to guess the circumfrence of the pantheons inner dimmensions ranges from 21-27 Garretts(I dont know the Garrett to Inch conversion)
Just visited it last Spring. So great!
YAsss, a new book!
Amazing building techniques.. thanks for sharing… 😊😊
Superb video! Added a lot to my recent visit. Maximas gratias tibi!
I came, I saw, I liked.
Thank you for this video.
I remember the first time I was going to see the Pantheon. For some reason, I got the map wrong and thought I was coming in from the back, but when I rounded the corner, it was the front of it I saw. Made it even better! I was so amazed.
This channel is top notch history needs more attention
I can't wait to go see it again
I can'y wait to visit this masterpiece!
I adore the Pantheon. It's genuinely awesome.
I have lived in a castle on Rhodes island, in the shadow of the Parthenon of Athens but this place, this place I desperately want to visit before I run out of bandwidth.
The scaffolding and other support necessary must have been truly amazing. The entire floor space would have been filled with massive timbers rising up to 145 feet high. What a fantastic effort that must have been.
Fantastic stuff
Congrats on the new book!!
New book! Yay!
Fantastic video.
I remember seeing a paining a while back that shows the Pantheon as essentially a second story of a building that had a lower level with the door being near a water bank. The entrance to the top portion was the same because there were large staircases that went up to a main street level. I don’t think I’ve ever heard of an archeological dig to see if this area has any significant artifacts still down there.
Sorry I've been absent for awhile. But I'm glad to see your sense of humor is better than ever.
New book love it. Last one is a perfect present for history buffs
Pre-ordered, thanks!!
Much appreciated!
Thank you.
Wonderful video! On this note please make a review about the Hagia Sophia!
Merci du partage! Stéph.
Do the next video on Why the Pyramids Haven't Collapsed. I can't wait.
Excellent explanation of one of the wonders of the world.
The enginnerguy channel did a great video about medieval cathedral construction.
Congrats on the new book, Garrett! Thanks for another amazing video.
I am jealous of all who have stood in it’s glory! What an amazing accomplishment. 🎉
Thanks Garrett. I will order my copy tomorrow. DA
I had the exact same question!
The rows of rectangular forms or coffers, not only do they lighten the dome, requiring less material to be used but also
they give a more human scale to the enormity of the dome.
I was surprised when I saw photographs for restoration workers standing next to a coffer though.
These coffers are giant themselves.
But looking up at the dome from ground floor level, these coffers appear like a nice little pattern.
It's said that despite the roof being opened at the Oculus, no rain ever fell through it. There were so many candles lit inside at all times that the heat created an upward draft of hot air that pushed the rain out of the way before it could enter the opening. So you could stand in the center of the building on a rainy day, look up, and see the rain parting over your head. This phenomenon does not happen now since there are no candles burning inside anyone.
Thank you❤❤❤🎉🎉
We need one of these videos on Hagia Sophia
The dome pozolan concrete would have been laid in layers over a timber mould. Additional layers added as the underlying layers cooled. The cracking walls show just how much was added.
great video
Because it’s a building miracle. Plus, it’s beautiful.
I visited the Pantheon many years ago. It is difficult to fully taken in in a single visit. This video is a good follow up to that experience. The engineering of the ancients is truly mind boggling in buildings like the Pantheon.
I wonder, is there a tension chain ring imbedded in the wall of the building to help control the outward forces of the dome?
I had the privilege of visiting the Pantheon once before with a family friend who is a history professor at a university in Rome.
A few incredible things I was told / taught that day (please fact check me though in case I get details wrong after all these years). If you read nothing else read fact 3 because it blew my mind once I learned about it.
1. The monolith columns in the front of the pantheon are not the original columns as this video alluded to. The granite was excavated from Egypt and the the first set of columns were so heavy that the ship carrying them sank. So theoretically there is a set of monolithic granite columns intended for the Pantheon at the bottom of the Mediterranean if that is true.
2. A big reason why the Pantheon has stood for so long is because 1 the Romans were incredible builders but 2 the Catholic Church converted it from a pagan temple into a Christian church. As good of builders that the Romans were idk if the structure would have stood 1000s of years without maintenance.
3. There is red marble on the floor as well as the internal columns where statues of the Gods would be. This marble is known as "Imperial Porphyry". It can only be found on a single mountain in Egypt. I forget if there's none left or if is no longer allowed to be mined but it is considered "extinct"... making it literally one of the most precious/rare stones on the planet. This absolutely blew my mind because here you are looking up at the oculus but really you're standing on something very precious which most people are completely unaware of. In the center of the Pantheon's floor there is a large circle of this marble. Many emperors over the course of 100s of years were crowned in that very spot. 🤯
That place alone is worth the price of passage. Magnificent in real life.
my online critic, some nice stuff. I actually leant more about this. I actually went and experienced it.
Excelente documentário em um mundo rodeado de arquitetura moderna de gosto questionável.
It’s all “in the compression” baby!