What Happened to the Original Pantheon?
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Agrippa's original Pantheon burned in 80 AD, and its replacement under Domitian burned around 110 AD. The building visitors enter today is the later Trajanic–Hadrianic reconstruction; limited archaeological remains, rather than a surviving interior, provide evidence of the earlier buildings.
The honest version of this story is less tidy than the usual telling. The plan and orientation of Agrippa's building, the design of the rebuild, and the exact division of credit between Trajan's and Hadrian's reigns are all argued over by specialists. Below, what the evidence supports — and where it runs out.
Inside the rotunda, look up at the open oculus before following the perimeter to the tombs and altar. Adult sightseeing admission is €7 from 1 July 2026 (€5 from July 2023); under-18s and first-Sunday visitors enter free. Mass attendance is free but is not a sightseeing visit. Compare the Pantheon ticket and booking guide before choosing admission or extras. Confirm availability with Musei Italiani, the official seller.
What was Agrippa’s original Pantheon?
Marcus Agrippa, son-in-law and lieutenant of Augustus, built the original Pantheon as part of his redevelopment of the Campus Martius, the flat ground north of the Republican city. Agrippa's programme there also included baths, the Saepta Julia and major water infrastructure.
What his Pantheon looked like is genuinely uncertain. It is known only through limited archaeological remains and later descriptions, and reconstructions differ: older interpretations proposed a south-facing rectangular temple, while later scholarship has argued for a north-facing building and possibly a circular plan related to the current monument. The meaning and application of the name Pantheon are themselves debated, so even "dedicated by Agrippa to all the gods" is a reading rather than a documented dedication.
What happened to the Pantheon in the fire of AD 80?
In 80 AD a major fire swept parts of central Rome and devastated the Campus Martius. Cassius Dio lists the Pantheon among the monuments lost, alongside the Baths of Agrippa, the Saepta and other nearby structures.
How did Domitian rebuild the Pantheon?
Domitian rebuilt the Pantheon in the years after the fire. Very little is known about this phase: no plan survives, and the common assumption that it simply repeated a rectangular, south-facing predecessor rests on the same disputed reconstruction of Agrippa's building rather than on direct evidence for Domitian's.
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Official Pantheon Tickets — Musei ItalianiSold by Italy's Ministry of Culture. €7 admission from July 2026. Any online transaction fee is shown at checkout.Musei Italiani Official SiteMusei Italiani is the official Pantheon ticket seller. Third-party products may be tours, hosted-entry products or bundled services — check the exact inclusions before booking.
TiqetsCompare advance Pantheon tickets, audio guides & combo bundlesCheck PricesKlookPantheon tickets & guided tours — cancellation varies by productCheck PricesTrip.comReward credits & frequent traveller dealsCheck PricesHotels near the PantheonStay 2 minutes from Piazza della Rotonda — compare boutique stays on Trip.com.View HotelsCompare all three providers to find the best price for your dates.What happened to the Pantheon around AD 110?
The later writer Orosius records that the Pantheon was struck by lightning and burned during Trajan's reign, conventionally dated around 110 AD. Both the destruction dates and the intervals between them are approximate: within roughly three decades the site had burned twice.
Which Pantheon building can you visit today?
The surviving Pantheon is a complete rethinking of the site: a circular rotunda carrying a vast concrete dome, fronted by a columned portico. Its construction spans the end of Trajan's reign and the reign of Hadrian, who became emperor in 117 AD. Because work appears to have begun before 117, describing the project as purely Hadrianic is a simplification — Trajanic–Hadrianic is the safer label.
Brick stamps, which carry consular dating, are the main evidence for the chronology and are why the building is no longer attributed to Agrippa himself. They do not settle the question cleanly: Trajanic-era material has played a significant role in the dating debate, and specialists continue to argue about how much of the design and construction belongs to each reign. See who built the Pantheon.
The Agrippa inscription was reinstated on the new façade. Why is not recorded, and the popular explanation that it demonstrates imperial humility is a modern guess rather than an ancient statement of motive.
What survives from the earlier Pantheons?
Almost nothing visible. Excavations below and around the present building have recorded, among other things: Look for these features during your visit, while respecting any areas reserved for worship.
- Earlier foundation structures whose relationship and orientation relative to the present building remain debated.
- Pavement and decorative marble fragments predating the current floor.
- Older brick and building material reused in later fabric — which shows reuse, not necessarily that the material came from an earlier Pantheon.
Interpretations of these remains vary between excavation reports, and none of them are accessible to visitors. The most conspicuous survival from Agrippa's day is the inscription itself — recut for a building he never saw.
For the long view, read the history of the Pantheon from ancient Rome to today, and what the Pantheon was actually used for.
Sources and further reading
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — Pantheon, Rome: structure, dating and history
- UNESCO World Heritage List — Historic Centre of Rome
- Direzione Musei nazionali della città di Roma (Ministry of Culture) — official Pantheon page: hours, tickets and access
- Turismo Roma — official city tourism information
Facts on this page last checked: August 2026. Prices, opening hours and transport routes in Rome change — always confirm with the official source before your visit.
Planning to go inside? Standard adult admission is €7 from 1 July 2026, and under-18s enter free — see our Pantheon ticket guide for official booking, free-entry days and what each ticket includes.
Continue reading about the Pantheon
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Pantheon today the original building?
No. Agrippa built the first Pantheon in the late first century BC; it burned in 80 AD. A rebuild under Domitian was destroyed by fire around 110 AD. The rotunda you visit belongs to the Trajanic–Hadrianic period of the early second century AD.
What did the original Pantheon look like?
Reconstructions differ. Older interpretations proposed a south-facing rectangular temple, while later scholarship has argued for a north-facing building and possibly a circular element related to the current monument. It is known only from limited remains and later descriptions. For sightseeing, this is part of the Pantheon interior rather than a separately ticketed attraction.
Why does the Pantheon say Agrippa built it?
The inscription reproduces the dedication of the first Pantheon. Why it was retained on the later building is not recorded; explanations such as imperial humility or political continuity are modern interpretations, not ancient statements. For sightseeing, this is part of the Pantheon interior rather than a separately ticketed attraction.
Has any of the earlier Pantheon survived?
Excavations below and around the present building have recorded earlier foundations, pavement fragments and reused material. None of it is on display to visitors, and interpretation of individual finds is debated. For sightseeing, this is part of the Pantheon interior rather than a separately ticketed attraction.
Why did the earlier Pantheons burn?
Both were lost in fires that affected large parts of the Campus Martius, one of them reported as caused by lightning. Roman monumental buildings with timber roof structures were highly vulnerable to fire. For sightseeing, this is part of the Pantheon interior rather than a separately ticketed attraction.