Essay On Roman Pantheon

The Roman Pantheon built by the Romans using advanced engineering skills combined a cylindrical structure with an outer colonnade Greek classical design to make an architectural monument. The amount of time and effort that went into the building of this structure shows a cultural emphasis on quality workmanship and perfectionism. This workmanship and perfectionism showed the importance given to the worship and honoring of the Gods. This pantheon is the only active place of worship amongst Rome’s ancient temples still in existence. Modern commentators tend to view the building as a high point in an "architectural revolution" brought about mainly through the Roman development of a superior pozzolana concrete that lent itself to the forming of unitary, three-dimensional structures. Other factors cited for the technical success of the Pantheon include the use of a series of massive, concentric stepped rings and the lightening of the dome by coffering and gradated light-weight aggregates. ( Mark, Robert, and Paul Hutchinson, 1986) The concrete dome was one of the world’s largest unreinforced concrete builds for over a millennium until the modern era. The success of the Pantheon longevity was largely attributed to acquired new techniques of construction and materials that shaped the development of Roman construction technology. This allowed for the use

of arches which helped design and form the basic idea of a dome creation in a building further enhancing the development of Roman architecture.
The Florence Cathedral is also known as the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Flower was built in a Gothic-Renaissance style starting in 1296 and finally reaching completion in 1434 of the Renaissance designed dome. The design of the church by Arnolfo di Cambio and the completion by Filippo Brunelleschi of the dome allowed this structure to become one of the world’s architectural wonders during its time. The techniques used during the construction employed a herringbone pattern that was able to keep the interlocking bricks of this masonry dome intact, (Castex, 52) this pattern of construction is in use in today’s modern world, but at the time it was considered a revolutionary new idea. The cathedral and its dome represent early Renaissance style which blended old and new designs one such as Italian Gothic which is quite distinctive. It combines design elements from antique and Early Christian architecture with the use of French Gothic in its construction. (Castex, 50) No list of the outstanding Gothic monuments of Europe could fail to include the Cathedral of Florence, yet its place in medieval architecture remains anomalous. Anomalous above all is its unprecedented design, which integrates a rib-vaulted Basilica, a domed octagon, and a triconch of fifteen extruded chapels. What other building in Europe combines so many vocabularies (Early Christian, Byzantine, Romanesque, Gothic) and national traits (Italian, French, German) before the nineteenth century? (Toker, 214)The design of this structure was from the use of ideas from old Roman buildings that made use of the arches and columns which were then incorporated into the cathedral construction. During the course of its construction over the years, many structural and decorative designs were included in the interior and exterior of this building including marble flooring to sculptures and frescoes. Upon its completion in architectural terms, it was considered to be the largest church dwarfing any others with its vastness. The experimental method used in the construction even with naysayers eventually was the catalyst of creativity explosion that became the Renaissance.
The similarities between these two wonders can be attributed to their construction methods that were unique to each design. Each was able to draw on previous methods and materials of other empires and incorporate them into their style. This gave them the ability to build to greater heights, making this structure well lighted that any previous buildings and being closed in from the weather made this structure the most unique in comparison to any other Roman existing structure. This new quality of design set others on a quest to search even more interior architectural beauty. The inclusion of the dome into the construction was an engineering feat being that it has been able to stave off time; the dome is still the world’s largest unreinforced concrete dome. The building of Florence Cathedral was built on the remains of a fourth century cathedral and its main feature is its massive dome which was an engineering feat when completed. It was evolving from Roman and Greek architecture to a Gothic style that defined the construction of the arch and allowed for larger window construction and a better building support system; the flying buttresses. The style of the dome visually was purely Gothic with some basic Roman structural techniques used in its construction. This cathedral was the forerunner of many architectural achievements upon its completion. (Italian Architecture, n.d.)
While the Romans used their new building designs while incorporating elements from Greek designs, the architects of The Florence Cathedral though inspired by Roman structures; was purely Gothic in its build.
The Roman Pantheon was built using a simplified Roman style, stout columns, thick walls, small window openings and semi-circular arches, and heavy buildings in materials.

In building the interior of this temple, it shows how the Romans brilliantly were able conceive the idea and realize the quality of spaciousness. While the Florence Cathedral incorporated some newer ideas that evolved allowing for better, lighter construction materials to be used that centered on the Gothic style, allowing for larger window construction which later allowed stained glass to be included and a better support system; the flying

buttress.

The transition from the middle ages to a more modern era that took place was called the Renaissance. This was the growth of the world while also a rebirth in artistic ideals from Roman times, this new emergence of ideals and innovations allowed for the ability of combining old construction methods, along with newer designs and use of newer materials. Today’s architects have been able to draw on their earlier predecessors ideas in design and construction and incorporate these same ideas in buildings and other structures all over the world, so even these two great wonders have passed along to future generations a gift of longevity in design.