Jefferson Memorial and the Pantheon Essays - 1347 Words

Jefferson Memorial and the Pantheon The Jefferson Memorial is a testimonial to the past, present, and future of the United States. Its architecture, like most neo-Classical buildings, gives a sense of permanence. This permanence has a history far older than many would suspect. Centuries ago and thousands of miles away a building was erected that would later become the model for which many other buildings, including the Jefferson Memorial, are based upon. This building is the Roman Pantheon. Though the Jefferson Memorial borrows the basic form and elements from the Pantheon, the Memorial has distinctive differences from its predecessor. The Memorial is located in Washington, DC in an area of the city known as The Mall (Weeks, AIA†¦show more content†¦It is a grave mistake though, to believe that the Memorial is only a copy of the Roman model. No, the Jefferson Memorial is quite unique, and has distinctive differences from the Pantheon. The Pantheon was built in Rome under the patronage of Emperor Hadrian between 125 and 128 CE. It was originally raised on a podium but that has long been covered up by centuries of dirt and debris (Stokstad, Art History, pg. 263). Its facade was made to resemble a typical Greek or Roman temple but behind this porch lies a giant rotunda, or circular building. It has 20 foot thick walls that raise 75 feet high . . . and support a huge, round, bowl-shaped dome, 143 feet in diameter and 143 feet from the floor at its summit (Stokstad, pg263-264). Like most Roman buildings, the Pantheons surface consists of marble. Beneath the marble veneer lies internal brick arches and concrete that support the dome. The walls form a structural drum that holds up the dome. These structural elements are disguised by a wealth of architectural detail-columns, exedrae, pilasters and entablatures-in two tiers(Stokstad, pg. 264). The design of simple repetition of square against a circle . . . established on a large scale by the juxtaposition of the rectilinear portico against the rotunda(Stokstad, pg. 264-265). This repetition of square on circle is also repeated in the interior of the building. The floor also shows the motif ofShow MoreRelatedThe Great Leaders Have Used The Power Of Architecture3601 Words   |  15 Pagescollection of colonies. A contrasting example is Thomas Jefferson, an aspiring architect who not only designed buildings for the new America, but the American democracy with it. His architecture was representative of a collection of intellectual individuals working together to create a just system of government. The classical buildings that symbolize these styles of architecture, linked by the similar architectural features, are the Maison Carrà ©e, Pantheon and the Parthenon. Features that make the MaisonRead MoreEssay on Classical Architecture: An Everlasting Imprint1205 Words   |  5 Pagesporticos. The similarities of both of these buildings are quite astonis hing and the architectural style of the Maison Carree must have had a significant influence on the construction of the high school and many other buildings. For instance Thomas Jefferson found that the Maison Carree â€Å"gave inspiration to the design of the Virginia State House in Richmond, Virginia.[1] Aside from the physical appearances both of these buildings serve different purposes for the public. The Maison Carree has had aRead MoreThe Classical Style Of The Ancient Greece And The United States1141 Words   |  5 Pagesdesign a range of civic structures.† Some of the renowned French artist that brought the neo-classical style through their architect are Jacques Germain Soufflot, Jean Chalgrin, and Claude Nicolas Ledoux. 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The Ancient Roman architects used many architectural concepts developed by the Ancient Greeks such as columns and triangular gable roofs. An example of the blend of Roman and Greek architectural ideas was the Pantheon in Rome, Italy. Commissioned and designed by the Emperor Hadrian in 126 AD, was built as a temple to honor and glorify the gods of the Ancient Roman Empire. The building has two sections of roof: a dome and a triangular gable. The dome on the roofRead MoreThe Political System Of The United States1813 Words   |  8 PagesThomas Jefferson, an American Founding Father once wrote that â€Å"design activity and political thought are indivisible,† stating that architecture acts as a vital instrument in conveying political image. In this case, the prominent symbols of government in any polity would be the national parliamentary buildings as they demonstrate faith in the cultural identity of a nation internally as well as foreign country. 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