As soon as she arrives in Rome, Girlawhirl drops her bags at her hotel and hits the streets. She has a specific route that she usually takes, from the Spanish Steps, across Via del Corso, in front of the Italian Parliament buildings, around a few corners, where she's sure to stop for a gelato, and then... there she is... standing in front of the Pantheon, one of the most majestic monuments from ancient Rome...
Built between 118 AD and 126 AD as a pagan temple and converted to a catholic church, the Pantheon's always been a place of worship ― which might account for the fact that it's in fabulous condition for being such an old structure. Girlawhirl loves peeking around its rounded sides where the internal bricks are exposed and she can see the arches that give the 20 foot thick walls enough strength to support the domed roof.
Here's what makes it so spectacular: the shape of the inside of the roof is circular, and in order to keep the roof from caving in, it was constructed out of concrete - though the exact composition is unknown. The dome is not reinforced and it wouldn't have been able to support its own weight all of these years if it was made with today's style of concrete. It's done in a coffered relief pattern that made it lighter than it would be if it were smooth and solid. There's also a round opening in the middle, which not only added to the lightness of the structure but also allows for light, sunshine and rain to come inside.
It's a feat of engineering that still stumps architects today.
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