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Rome, Italy is a city full of history and culture, everywhere you turn around there is beauty and architecture to be seen. One of these epic structures is the Pantheon. The Pantheon, which translates as "all gods" was an ancient temple built to honor all the gods. It still stands in Rome today and is a top site to see when visiting Rome. To view the magnificent Pantheon, you should apply for a new US passport and plan your journey to the ancient city.

Passports

Passports allow you to travel internationally. They act as a travel permit. They are fairly easy to obtain now as most services can be conducted online. Before applying for your child pass ports, double check all requirements and make sure you all your necessary documentation. This will allow for a smooth application process.

History

The Pantheon was built in 27 B.C.E to 25 B.C.E, to celebrate the victory of Actium over Antony and Cleopatra by Marcus Agrippa. The original structure burned down in 80 C.E. and was then reconstructed in 125 C.E. by the emperor Hadrian. It was a fully functional temple.

Building

The structure of the Pantheon was unique for it's time. It was a circular building with the only light coming in from an opening in the ceiling at the center, known as the oculus. During it's time a temple various statues of deities filled the temple and animal sacrifices to the deities were performed in the center allowing the smoke to exit through the oculus.

Christianity

Once Christianity replaced paganism in Rome the Pantheon was abandoned. It was illegal to perform public pagan worship at the time, so it had no use. Later it was consecrated as a Christian church; it was the first pagan temple in Rome to be Christianized. This occurred in 609 C.E. by Pope Boniface IV. It was dedicated to the Virgin Mary and saints and was named the church of Santa Maria Ad Martyres. The all encompassing of the martyrs continued the "pan" use of the structure.

Michelangelo

The Pantheon went through many changes from function to the actual building itself. It was looted many times and stripped of its goods, including Bronze. In the early 16th century Michelangelo studied the Pantheon for inspiration. The Pantheon's inspiration lead to the dome of St. Peter at the Vatican which is only two feet smaller than that of the Pantheon.

Inspiration

The Pantheon is one of the most frequented sites in Rome and has been featured in many documentaries and books. In 1980 it was declared a World Heritage site. The structure of the Pantheon has been the inspiration for a lot of modern buildings. Building such as; the British Museum Reading Room, The Tomas Jefferson Rotunda at the University of Virginia, the Low Library at Columbia University and the State Library of Victoria in Melbourne, Australia.