Square Tops #23: The Oculus

04/23/2020•ancient, architecture, Italy

The Eye at the Top of the Pantheon

The Oculus, The Pantheon, Rome

Join Becky’s April Squares: SquareTops. There are only two rules: the photo must be square and it must relate to the theme of the month.

The theme for April Squares is ‘top‘, and Becky has listed five idioms to choose from;

On Top of the World – summit, crown, peak (tiptop) or uppermost part of something.
Under the Big Top – topping or covering (or if you are really lucky a circus!)
Room at the Top – first or highest in position
Cherry on Top – something made even more wonderful by becoming square
Top and Tail – or maybe you’d prefer to play around with word combinations such as top dog, top stitch, top hat, top secret, top knot, top drawer or top dollar!

The main tag is #SquareTops but you may also want to add a second tag using the idiom your square is coming under.

Ancient Bricks

11/09/2019•ancient, architecture, Italy

Brick construction, side wall, Pantheion, 113–125 AD, Rome, Italy

Join Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge: Stones or Bricks

Lines Squared #28

10/28/2019•ancient, architecture, Italy

Coffered Lines

The Pantheon, Rome, Italy

Join Becky from The Life of B for October Squares #28. There are only two rules. The image must be square and must relate to the October theme: lines&squares.

K’lee & Dale’s Cosmic Photo Challenge: Notions of Shadow and Light

03/27/2018•art, France, history

Voltaire’s Shadow: Variations on a Theme

: Out of the Shadows, Pantheon, Paris, France

The statue of Voltaire, by French sculptor Jean-Antoine Houdon, stands in front of his tomb on the crypt level of the Panthéon in Paris. The lights throw the statue’s shadow in three directions.The Panthéon is the final resting place for French national heroes. Voltaire, a French Enlightenment writer, historian and philosopher, advocated for freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and separation of church and state. He was interred in the Panthéon in 1791, the second individual to be so honored.

Join K’lee & Dale’s Cosmic Photo Challenge: Notions of Shadow and Light

French Saints and Heroes – The Pantheon, Paris

03/09/2018•architecture, history, Travel

As many times as I’ve been to Paris, this was my first visit to the Pantheon. I was in awe at its beauty. Modeled on the Pantheon in Rome, the neo-classical building began its life as a church dedicated to St. Genevieve, the patron saint of Paris. The architect Soufflot began the Pantheon in 1755, with the ambition of competing with St. Peter’s in Rome. Construction was completed in 1790.

In 1791, it was became the National Pantheon, a place to honor for those who fought for equality and tolerance. Later, Napoleon I agreed to return the upper structure to a church as long as the lower crypt retained its national function. Its full national civic purpose was restored with Victor Hugo’s funeral in 1885.

The Nave and Transept

The walls of the nave and the transept arms are decorated with monumental painting cyles. The life of St. Genevieve is shown on the nave walls.

The transept paintings depict famous French historical/political figures such as Joan of Arc.

The Transept Dome

At the corners of the dome, frescoes by Baron Gros depict the Apotheosis of St. Geneviere. They are the oldest paintings in the Pantheon.

The Crypt

Burial honors have been granted to soldiers, resistance fighters, liberators, writers, scientists, politicians and others who exemply the republican values of justice and tolerance. Today, those interred in the Pantheon are subject to the whim of the French president.