The Architecture of the ‘Pantheon’ in Athens. Recent Discoveries

In the decade of the 1960’s the remains of a large building were discovered, 65 m southeast of the Library of Hadrian in Athens. The temple-like construction with dimensions 87 m and 39 m was identified with the Pantheon built under Hadrian. Recent research in the Library of Hadrian discovered a number of architectural features that match the colossal size of the building. Column bases and drums, as well as fragments from the superstructure, mostly incorporated in second use in the Tetraconch building, allow for the reconstruction of the outer and interior orders and their association with the in situ remains. The raised panels in the ashlars of the masonry, together with the octastyle prostyle plan which was used only during Hadrian’s years confirm the suggested chronology. As the cella corresponds to the 8 columns of the facade, the interior width equals 32 m, making the ‘Pantheon’ of Athens the broadest known cella, appropriate for the worship of all gods. The article includes stylistic comparisons with other works of the Hadrianic repertoire and views the ‘Pantheon’ as the Athenian response to the Pantheon in Rome