The Pagan pantheon is a complex and diverse collection of deities and supernatural beings that were worshipped by various pagan cultures throughout history. These pantheons often consisted of gods and goddesses that represented different aspects of nature, society, and the human experience. One of the most well-known pagan pantheons is the Norse pantheon, which includes deities such as Odin, Thor, and Freyja. These gods and goddesses were worshipped by the ancient Norse people, who believed that they had the power to influence various aspects of life, including the weather, fertility, and protection in battle. Another prominent pagan pantheon is the Greek pantheon, which includes gods and goddesses such as Zeus, Hera, and Aphrodite. In Greek mythology, these deities were believed to control different domains, such as the heavens, marriage, and love.
The Pantheon: the Christian monument dedicated to pagan gods
The Pantheon, ancient masterpiece of architecture and engineering
The Pantheon - that means "temple of all the gods", in Greek - is an historical building showing its majesty in the heart of Rome. It is a monument built in the 2nd century, by Emperor Hadrian, known as a lover of art and culture. The Pantheon, whose origins date back to the Augustan age, was actually affected by some of the period before Hadrian's government.
This wonderful temple is dedicated to pagan gods, and its proportions are incredible: you can actually draw a circle around it as its diameter and height correspond each other, giving it a great balance and harmony. Probably the designer of the project was Apollodorus of Damascus, well-known Roman writer and architect. This example of the highest engineering making the building perfect gives origin also to interesting games of light, astonishing spectators; they exist thanks to the famous "oculus", a rounded window on the top of the dome, with a 9 metres diameter, from where you can see the sky.
The inscription written on the external walls of the Pantheon is very interesting too, situated over the pronaos: "M. Agrippa LF Cos. Tertium. Fecit" - without abbreviations it becomes "Marcus Agrippa Luci filius consultertium fecit", that means "Marcus Agrippa, Lucius' son of Lucius, consul for the first time built it". This suggests the element dates back to the first construction of the building itself - it means during the Augustan age, 1st century BC -, and that Emperor Hadrian decided to keep it on the building. There is also another writing on it, a dedication to Settimio Severus, that seems to be more recent, and shows the features of restoration; it says:
"Temple of all gods"
As we have already mentioned, the original aim of the Pantheon was to dedicate the temple to the pagan gods venerated during the Classic age, especially to the protectors of Augustus’ family. However, according to some scholars, the name of the building could be connected to the Vault of Heaven.
Whatever its function was, the "Temple of all gods" is an architectural masterpiece. You can enter by the pronaos, the rectangular area situated in front of the temple, surrounded by columns and covered by the tympanum, a typical Greek architecture element. The grey external columns - 13 m tall - are made of granite and welcome the visitors in a majestic way. The pronaos is surrounded by white steps, today covered. The entrance divides the building in three naves, but only the central one brings you inside: the side naves end in the recesses where probably there where two statues, dedicated to Augustus and Agrippa.
When you enter, in front of you, you can see an enormous rounded room covered by the famous dome with the hole. It is made of concrete, showing a peculiar engineering process. The materials it is made of get even lighter the more you go up, departing from travertine to end with the pumice on the top. Also the coffers on the ceiling decrease their dimensions. We can probably say that the long life of this monument is due to this very peculiar and accurate structure. A very interesting fun fact is that even if it's raining, the rain doesn't enter into the building: the ascensional flows smash the water drops avoiding its deposit on the floor. The final result is the impression it is not raining.
The pediment finally reveals a vanished decoration assumed to be made of bronze: it probably was a great eagle with open wings.
The interior
The Interior of the Pantheon is extremely impressive with its size and with artificial lighting blending with the natural sun, creating shadows. The floor is convex with an incline of about 30 cm, to eventually allow the rain flowing toward the perimeter of the building, equipped with appropriate drains.
The interior is distributed on three floors; the first from the bottom is full of exedras and pilasters scanned by columns, dominated by the continuous trabeation dividing it from the second floor. The wall coverings is made of coloured marble; the second floor was made of lesens to simulate windows, but what you can see nowadays is the new covering made in the 18th century. Some years ago, a part of the first floor was restored, even if in a way not so similar to the original one, in order to let you see the ancient book of the building. The last floor is dedicated to the dome with the hole.
The Pantheon: a Christian basilica
A legend tells during the spring equinox the moon gets situated on the oculus, at midnight. This phenomenon can be considered true, if we analyse the temple since its origins: it was built according to the ancient temples projects, usually dedicated to the great mother goddess. However, whatever the original purpose was, if this building is still in good conditions, the reason is its conversion into a Christian basilica, in the 7th century.
It was a very common habit for the pagan monuments; the Pantheon got changed once again in 1870, when it became the tomb of Vittorio Emanuele II, Margherita di Savoia, and the famous Renaissance artist Raffaello Sanzio.
Several legends talk about this building, but just one is connected to the Christian consecration, when 28 carts martyrs' bones were buried under the sanctuary. The legend tells after this act, seven devils escaped from the temple, and one of them made the hole under them to go out.
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Pagan Gods from Across the Ancient World
From Zeus and Jupiter to Poseidon and Geb, there were many pagan gods around the world. The word “Pagan” derives from the Latin “Paganus”, which was reappropriated by Christianity, first in the fourth century AD, to alienate those who did not adhere to the Christian religion.
Originally it had signified that somebody was “rural,” “rustic,” or simply a “civilian,” but the later Christian adaptation, which was further developed in the Middle Ages, connoted that pagans were backward and anachronistic, neglecting the one true biblical god for heretical pagan religions that demanded grotesque sacrifices.
Indeed, this latter image is one that has remained remarkably stubborn, especially in the Western world. Elsewhere, the pagan gods of Ancient Greece, Rome, Egypt, or the Celts are not so alien to the Hindu or Shinto pantheons of the East. Essential to most of them is a polytheistic conceptualization of the divine – many gods rather than one, each with their own area of patronage, be it war, wisdom, or wine.
Unlike the Judeo-Christian deity, they were not benevolent or loving, but they were powerful, and it was important to placate them and have them on your side, if possible.
For the ancients, they were inextricably linked to the natural world around them; to placate them meant to be on good terms with the world and life itself.
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In Greek mythology, these deities were believed to control different domains, such as the heavens, marriage, and love. They were often depicted as powerful and temperamental beings, capable of both immense kindness and great wrath. Other pagan pantheons include the Celtic pantheon, which includes deities such as Brigid and Cernunnos, and the Egyptian pantheon, which includes gods and goddesses such as Ra, Isis, and Osiris.
Pagan Gods from Different Cultures
There are many pagan gods and goddesses in various cultures around the world. They were often associated with natural elements, specific aspects of life, and various cultural practices. Many modern pagans and neopagan groups still honor these gods and goddesses in some ways.
These pantheons often had complex mythologies and rituals associated with their worship, and their worshippers would often make offerings and sacrifices to gain favor from the gods. In modern times, there has been a resurgence of interest in pagan pantheons and their associated practices. Many people have adopted pagan beliefs and incorporated elements of pagan worship into their spiritual practices. This includes celebrating holidays and rituals associated with specific deities, as well as connecting with nature and the natural world. Overall, the Pagan pantheon is a rich and diverse collection of deities that have been worshipped by various cultures throughout history. Their beliefs and practices continue to be studied and celebrated today, as people seek to connect with ancient traditions and explore alternative forms of spirituality..
Reviews for "The Pagan Pantheon in Popular Culture: From Books to TV Shows"
1. Emily - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Pagan pantheon". The characters were underdeveloped and lacked depth, making it really difficult for me to connect with them. Additionally, the pacing of the story was all over the place, with some parts dragging on and others feeling rushed. I also found the plot to be highly predictable, which took away from any sense of suspense or surprise. Overall, I was expecting much more from this book and it sadly fell flat for me.
2. Mike - 1 star - I couldn't even finish "Pagan pantheon". The writing style was incredibly convoluted and hard to follow. It felt like the author was trying to be overly poetic with their language, but it just came across as pretentious and confusing. The constant use of obscure references and metaphors only added to my frustration. I found myself having to reread paragraphs multiple times just to understand what was going on. It's a shame because the premise of the book seemed interesting, but the execution was just too difficult to endure.
3. Sarah - 2 stars - "Pagan pantheon" had so much potential, but it ultimately fell short in my eyes. The world-building was not well-explained, leaving me feeling lost and struggling to understand the mythology and lore that the story was trying to convey. The dialogue also felt stilted and unnatural, making it hard for me to become invested in the interactions between the characters. There were some interesting ideas present, but they weren't fully explored or utilized to their fullest potential. Overall, I found myself wanting more from this book and was left feeling unsatisfied.
4. John - 2 stars - I found "Pagan pantheon" to be a confusing and disjointed read. The narrative jumped around too much, making it difficult to follow the overall storyline. The pacing was inconsistent, with long stretches of slow development followed by sudden bursts of action. This uneven pacing made it hard for me to fully engage with the plot and left me feeling disconnected from the characters. While I appreciate the attempt to incorporate elements of paganism into the story, it was not executed in a way that added depth or meaning to the narrative. Overall, I was left feeling disappointed and frustrated by this book.