Photos

The oculus, at the top and center of the dome is 7.8 meters in diameter. Rain and snow occasionally fall through it, but the floor is slanted and drains cleverly removing the water, if it manages to hit the floor. In practice, rain seldom falls inside the dome.

The giant dome that dominates the interior is 43.30 meters or 142 feet in diameter (for comparison, the White House dome is 96 feet in diameter). The Pantheon stood as the largest dome ever until Brunelleschi's dome at the Florence Cathedral of 1420-36. It's still the largest dome in the world that is made of masonry. Some literatures though say that it is made of cast concrete.

The ray of light is visible like this in the morning. At noon time, you may not see it. I enhanced the light ray a little bit, so it is more visible. I also used higher ISO level on this shot.

My black and white photographs of the Roman Pantheon may be seen in entirety at my website Architecture Gallery

Nikon D200
2007/09/06 02:28:09.1
RAW (12-bit)
Image Size: Large (3872 x 2592)
Color
Lens: VR 18-200mm F/3.5-5.6 G
Focal Length: 18mm
Exposure Mode: Programmed Auto
Metering Mode: Multi-Pattern
1/160 sec - F/6.3
Exposure Comp.: Programmed Auto
Metering Mode: Multi-Pattern
Sensitivity: ISO 640
Optimize Image: Vivid
White Balance: Auto
AF Mode: AF-C
Flash Sync Mode:
Flash Mode: Not Attached
Auto Flash Comp: Not Attached
Color Mode: Mode III (Adobe RGB)
Tone Comp.: Normal
Hue Adjustment: 0°
Saturation: Enhanced
Sharpening: Medium high
Image Comment: Copyright (c) 2007 Andre' Salvador. No usage permitted withou prior written consent. All rights reserved.
Long Exposure NR: Off
High ISO NR: Off