I am embarrassed to say, it took me several years-worth of visits to Paris before I finally made the pilgrimage to The Pantheon.
The inscription above the entrance reads AUX GRANDS HOMMES LA PATRIE RECONNAISSANTE ( "To great men, the grateful homeland")
I was so impressed, I had to take some photos for you too, which I hope encourages you to visit this beautiful and thought-provoking place!
The inscription above the entrance reads AUX GRANDS HOMMES LA PATRIE RECONNAISSANTE ( "To great men, the grateful homeland")
I was so impressed, I had to take some photos for you too, which I hope encourages you to visit this beautiful and thought-provoking place!
Photo above by Camille Gevaudan courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
The Pantheon, (meaning “Every God”) located in the Latin Quarter in Paris, was originally built as a church dedicated to St. Genevieve. In 1744, King Louis XV vowed that that if he recovered from a terrible illness, he would replace the ruined church of the Abbey of St. Genevieve with a church worthy of the patron saint of Paris. He did recover and in1758 construction began on the grand design by Jacques-Germain Soufflot. The overall design is that of a Greek cross with a massive portico of Corinthian columns.
It is an early example of neoclassicism, with a facade modeled on the Pantheon in Rome and is crowned by a dome that owes some of its character to Bramante’s “Tempietto”.
Unfortunately, the incredible triple dome with each shell fitted within the others was under restoration and completely obscured by decorative covers inside and out.
Unfortunately, the incredible triple dome with each shell fitted within the others was under restoration and completely obscured by decorative covers inside and out.
The interior and its crypt below are vast. Soufflot had the intention of combining the lightness and brightness of a Gothic cathedral with classical principles, but the building’s role as a mausoleum required that the great Gothic windows be blocked. The main floor is adorned with grand columns, frescoes, expressive statuary and domed and coffered ceilings.
In 1780, Soufflot died and was replaced by his student Jean-Batiste Rondelet. The remodeled St. Genevieve was finally completed in 1790, unfortunately coinciding with the early stages of the French Revolution.
In 1780, Soufflot died and was replaced by his student Jean-Batiste Rondelet. The remodeled St. Genevieve was finally completed in 1790, unfortunately coinciding with the early stages of the French Revolution.
In 1791, the revolution’s National Constituent Assembly ordered that the building be changed from a church to a mausoleum for the interment of great Frenchmen. The grand structure has reverted to being a church twice since then, only to become again a meeting house dedicated to the great intellectuals of France once again.
While a compromise between church and state has finally been worked out over time, the Pantheon you visit today definitely feels like the resting place of the citizens who were the great thinkers, artists, philosophers and statesmen of France.
The necropolis is a Labyrinth of vaulted stone corridors where small alcoves hold the remains of these illustrious people.
While a compromise between church and state has finally been worked out over time, the Pantheon you visit today definitely feels like the resting place of the citizens who were the great thinkers, artists, philosophers and statesmen of France.
The necropolis is a Labyrinth of vaulted stone corridors where small alcoves hold the remains of these illustrious people.
Some of the amazing people interred in the Pantheon include:
Voltaire: A satirical writer, historian and philosopher of the French Enlightenment. He believed in freedom of religion, expression, and the separation of church and state.
Rousseau: Writer and composer who influenced the French Revolution. He wrote about political, social and educational issues.
Victor Hugo: Poet, novelist and dramatist of the Romantic Movement. He wrote novels such as Les Miserables and the Hunchback of Notre-Dame.
Alexander Dumas: Writer who wrote novels such as The Three Musketeers and The Count of Montecristo.
Marie Curie: Known as “Madam Curie”, Scientist and Nobel Prize winner who pioneered research in radioactivity.
These are just a few of the many "Illuminati" interred in the impressive Pantheon.
Voltaire: A satirical writer, historian and philosopher of the French Enlightenment. He believed in freedom of religion, expression, and the separation of church and state.
Rousseau: Writer and composer who influenced the French Revolution. He wrote about political, social and educational issues.
Victor Hugo: Poet, novelist and dramatist of the Romantic Movement. He wrote novels such as Les Miserables and the Hunchback of Notre-Dame.
Alexander Dumas: Writer who wrote novels such as The Three Musketeers and The Count of Montecristo.
Marie Curie: Known as “Madam Curie”, Scientist and Nobel Prize winner who pioneered research in radioactivity.
These are just a few of the many "Illuminati" interred in the impressive Pantheon.
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