Conceived as a temple to all the gods by Agrippa, the Pantheon suffered damage by fire in 80 and was restored by the emperors Domitian and Trajan. In 118-25 Emperor Hadrian turned it into a classical sturdy of space, order, composition, and light.

The Pantheon’s circular composition, designed to reflect the heavens and the sun, deviates from earlier Greek and Roman architecture where rectangular enclosures served as temples. Raising a circular vault over a square base was made possible by inserting hidden wall niches and brick arches as supports.

The building’s only source of light is the oculus or great eye in the domed ceiling and around noon sunlight enters and sets aglow this extraordinary space with its polished marble interior and coffered geometry. The interior has a sloping floor to drain away rainwater entering through the opening.