Imperium in the Pantheon of Rome and its Pavimentum
Pantheon from Hadrianic Rome c. 125 CE to Modern time
Few great buildings in the world have a history parallel to the Pantheon; none are so glorious to better represent the genius of Roman architecture. Even in its altered state where much of its outer decoration has been stripped over the millennia and its incredible interior modified, the Pantheon still exemplifies the Roman aim for perfection in structural integrity and philosophical harmony. Three points are notable at the outset of this essay: The Pantheon is a remarkable achievement of 1) Roman engineering, 2) sacred geometry and cosmography and 3) as a statement of political imperium and Roman stability. Dio Cassius (c. 220 CE) said, “Thanks to its dome it resembles the vault of heaven itself.” But it is mostly the floor – the pavimentum - that will be newly interpreted as a statement of imperium in this brief architectural essay.
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