An Analysis of the Religious Symbolism Behind the Pantheon’s Dome

Abstract

Hadrian’s Pantheon is among the most architecturally significant buildings of the ancient world. No floorplan survives from the Pantheon’s construction at the end of the 1st century BC or from its renovation in the early 2nd century AD, so the meaning behind many of its architectural features remains a mystery. Scholars have interpreted that some aspects of the building reflect Roman religious beliefs and have proposed connections between elements of the building’s architecture and elements of Roman religion. The question remains whether Hadrian and his architects intended for these connections or whether the structure’s design was meant to allow for multiple interpretations. This paper aims to investigate the religious significance of the Pantheon’s dome. I will argue that it serves as a direct link for the viewer between the heavens and the earth.