Many obelisks are carved with Egyptian iconography and capped today with the cross symbolizing the conquering of Christianity over other religions. Obelisks were created during Egyptian times, many erected in proximity to monumental structures. An OBELISK is featured near the middle of the figural void preceding the building (image 1). Today the forum has been amended with a void not as clearly defined, yet still exists changed by the contemporary context of the city. The density of the Classical Roman urban context includes residential, commercial, religious, entertainment and many other types of constructions. Preceding the building would have been the clear extents of a rectangular FIGURAL VOID of the FORUM accentuating the frontal quality reinforced by the portico. In Classical Roman times, developing research articulates an orthogonal organization of the city around the Pantheon. The pediment is a PRECEDENT established from Classical Greek and Roman cultures and an icon that is translated many times throughout history on a multitude of different building types, not always religious. The portico is covered with a PEDIMENT, triangular cap to a temple. In addition, embedded within the cylinder is half of a sphere, which is the dome, and an additive cube to define the PORTICO, emphasizing the main entry. The PLATONIC SOLIDS that define the building are a cylinder. Today the Pantheon is a Christian church and tourist attraction, but it was originally designed and built as a pagan TEMPLE. The building exudes a GENIUS LOCI, exuding the essence of the Classical Roman Empire from 2000 years ago. Today we understand the Pantheon as a marvelous example of antiquity that remains amongst the contrast of the contemporary streets that have evolved today into the modern city of Rome. One of the more demure domes in the skyline is one with great longevity and an icon for the city. The many domes one sees in the skyline is a representation as Rome is the center of the Christian world, more specifically the center of the Catholic world. The skyline of Rome is not defined by skyscrapers or bridges it is a city of domes (image 2). Image 1: Front portico with pediment of Pantheon and obelisk Plan, elevation, section, and cross section of the Pantheon Pantheon, UNKNOWN DESIGNER, Classical Roman, ROME, Italy, 118 A.D.
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