Sarah Sellers
Sarah Haney
History & Appreciation of Art I
22 October 2018
Rotunda vs. Pantheon
Art transcends many realms and barriers; whether it’s time, language, or culture. In some cases well revered art will outlive hundreds of years past it’s time and its original creators. One common way people show their love and adoration for these timeless pieces is by reviving them to fit the current generation and culture. This is how the creation of University of Virginia’s main campus attraction, the Rotunda from 1826 compares very closely to the majesty of the Roman Empires Pantheon from circa 113-125 AD. While these two historical landmarks appear extremely similar in their architecture, scale, and history, they also differ wildly within their original function and meaning.
The style and look of the Rotunda is very similar to the Pantheons own outside structure. It similarly follows Marcus Agrippa's original design for the Pantheon which includes a dome shape throughout the building, but a temple like front along with references to the gods. Thomas Jefferson mirrors this image in a form that gives it the same features with it’s rotunde inside and same amount of columns as the Pantheon. These columns happen to all be marble Corinthian columns which adorn the top of the steps of both these buildings. It also contains the eye catching oculus which sits at the top of the sphere facing the sky. Along with this, is the set of large double doors serving as the main entrance into the buildings. Both these buildings are also mathematically correct in their attention to detail within their original creation.
Some major difference within architecture and style of these buildings is that the Rotunda has a window sphere oculus at the top while the Pantheon has an open air hole in the same place. Jefferson also added a couple newer additions including the lawn or academic village created to frame the Rotunda. He also inputs his own reference to Poseidon and Athena’s temples within the lawn. Along with structural similarities these building couldn’t be more similar, but different. The Pantheon was constructed with thick layers of concrete and scoria (which is a lightweight mixture of volcanic rock) with much care given to the dome and barrel, while Jefferson’s Rotunda is made up of cement and brick with a wooden skeleton seen in an English style home. This was quite appropriate for the time in which the building was created, almost resembling the inside structure of Monticello. When the materials were gathered to create the Rotunda they were from the local area of Charlottesville, however the materials for the Pantheon were gathered from all around including Egypt as a sign of Rome’s sizable empire and power. In Luke Fiederer's article he mentions how “ the Rotunda is divided into three floors: the lower two contained classrooms and lecture halls, while the third served as the university library. This space, ringed by columns and crowned by a domed ceiling, was the greatest built expression of Jefferson’s rational, Neoclassical ideals”. This trait was definitely not one that the Pantheon harbored, being that it was a completely open space. Another small addition Jefferson had created was to the building having windows around the dome, while the Pantheon has two sources of light which is the double doors and the roof’s oculus. So while the Rotunda looks and feels a lot like the Pantheon, it is disguised in many subtle ways by it’s extra pieces and it’s true age of time.
Not only are these two buildings iconic for their architecture, but also due to their sheer size. The Pantheon is notably bigger than the Rotunda, considering that the Rotunda itself is a one half scale replica of the temple. In it’s time the Pantheon was a incredible feat due to the size of the sphere within it. In an article by Mark Cartwright he mentions how “The rotunda measures 43.2 metres in diameter which is exactly the maximum height of the dome, itself a perfect hemisphere”. Before, Rome had never had a building such as the Pantheon. So not only was it the first of it’s kind, but also it was incredibly large which makes it a winning technical feat. Not only was the sheer size of these buildings important, but also the experiences the buildings faced to make it to the present generation.
At the beginning of the Pantheons story it was created by Marcus Agrippa as one of his only projects for the current ruler of his time: Augustus. However, it went through many phases having been burned down twice, once in 80 ce. and another in 110 ce. Oddly enough the Rotunda also faced the flames at one point, having been set ablaze by an electrical fire from the once was the “chemistry building”. Both have been remodeled several times and in both cases the original founders (Marcus Agrippa and Thomas Jefferson) were dead leaving the decision to the new predecessors. Each remodel changed the buildings significantly, in the Rotundas case one of the floors was opened up for more space, while the Pantheon attempted to follow the original construction, while still trying to reinforce the original structure for safety purposes. One similarity these both include is a famous marble/bronze statue attributing to a ruler or creator to show respects. In the Rotundas case it was Thomas Jefferson and Julius Caesar in the Pantheon. This was due to the fact that Agrippa couldn’t dedicate it to Augustus, so instead went with what he thought was the original founder of his way of thinking. Throughout their history the purpose for these buildings has changed drastically time and time again.
The original function for some buildings ends up often forgotten over time, especially if it is an amazing work of art that needs to be preserved. This eventually happens to both the Rotunda and the Pantheon becoming local tourist attractions where they are purely used to revel in their beauty and magistery. However, in their heyday the purposes of these buildings were drastically differing. For instance the Pantheon was originally intended to be a temple to the gods as a place to come bring offerings and also sacrifices. However, it’s said that’s not what Agrippa intended it to be, wanting it be possibly more ceremonial and a gift for the ruler. Eventually the temple was turned into a Christian church which part of still resides as today. In another case, the Rotunda’s original intention was to be a place of learning, having it’s status be a library even to this day. Along with being a library, it also occasionally holds meetings. The true marvel of these works is not the tourist aspect of them or the events they hold today, but their true meaning that still shines through and represents a landmark of their time.
While the Rotunda may be an exact smaller replica of the Pantheon on the outside, they actually have two very different meanings. Within Dr. Bryan Zygamont’s article he writes “In fact, one of the reasons why Jefferson was keen on founding the University of Virginia was to provide his home state with a secular educational option to the religiously-oriented College of William & Mary Jefferson being a academic was very atheist and decided he wanted to create a place dedicated purely to knowledge and learning”. The Rotunda is the face of that for the university representing a place for people to learn and expand their horizons of knowledge. The idea was that you come in a student ready to learn and leave a scholar with wisdom and grace. This is represented by the two temple styles Poseidon and Athena the goddess of wisdom. Jefferson also wanted to leave the end of lawn facing the Rotunda open as if to show once you finish learning you must take what you learned and take it out into the world. The contrast to these facts is that the Pantheon was a religious building built to praise the gods in which Jefferson then used it’s exact architecture as a non religious learning center, a complete opposite. So truly, he took the building design and put a new reason and life into it; almost the same skin, but different purpose. The Pantheon was created not only to get closer to the gods, but as mentioned before as a gift for the king. It is said that the day it was built the sun that came through the oculus lined up perfectly with doorway where the king was due to enter. Along with this it truly was a way for people to praise the gods and many signs can be seen within its architecture to prove it. One of them being the constant usage of square and circles on the floor and in the buildings inside design itself being a dome with square imprints on the inside. This was supposedly could represent the heaven and earth concept. Another is the oculus itself as if it was an opening to the sky above so people could feel closer to the heavens. Everything in view within the temple leads you up to the oculus and it is the main focal point of this building. In an essay by Dr. Paul A. Ranogajec he explains it best as “…the rotunda itself is a microcosm of the Roman world beneath the starry heavens, with the emperor presiding over it all, ensuring the right order of the world”.
In result, while the Rotunda may have the classic characteristic looks that the Pantheon contains, they both still come from two very different background and time periods. It is truly stunning the fact the Rotunda is such an accurate match to the Pantheon, but just put into a different context. These pieces regardless of their differences are truly amazing representations of their times and include fantastic bits and pieces of art with them. From the tiled floors, to columns, to the oculus within the top, they show everything was dedicated to a belief, whether it’s the Roman gods or a love for knowledge.
Works Cited
Cartwright, Mark. "Pantheon." Ancient History Encyclopedia. Ancient History Encyclopedia, 09 Apr. 2018, Web. 20 Oct. 2018.www.ancient.eu/Pantheon/. Accessed 22 Oct. 2018.
Fiederer, Luke. “AD Classics: University of Virginia / Thomas Jefferson.” ArchDaily, 8 Dec. 2016, www.archdaily.com/800786/ad-classics-university-of-virginia-thomas-jefferson. Accessed 22 Oct. 2018.
Ranogajec., Dr. Paul A. “The Pantheon.” Khan Academy, www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ancient-art-civilizations/roman/middle-empire/a/the-pantheon. Accessed 22 Oct. 2018.
Zygmont, Dr. Bryan. “Thomas Jefferson, Rotunda, University of Virginia.” Khan Academy, www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-americas/british-colonies/early-republic/a/jefferson-rotunda-uva. Accessed 22 Oct. 2018.