Pantheon Roof Hole Rain

The pantheon is the world s oldest building in continuous use.

Pantheon roof hole rain.

The oculus is small compared to the size of the pantheon and is located at the top of the roof google images and if the building were to be full of people their heated breath and the air heated by their collective bodies will rise pool and create a strong positive outflow through the oculus which would in effect blow the rain away from the opening. Rain falling thru the pantheon roof in rome italy. Air would be sucked in to replace that air from other openings lower down of course. And at least partially to let out smoke from candles lamps and torches you have to remember that at the time the pantheon was built the only forms of artificial light that existed were candles torches and oil lamps.

This is the one sunday a year when rose petals rain down from the pantheon and it should be on everyone s rome bucket list to experience the special mass at least once. From above the pantheon s 19 foot oculus the hole at the top of the dome is an obvious opening to the elements. In practice rain seldom falls inside the dome. It allows sunlight into the temple room below it but also allows rain to the interior which is why the marble floor below curves outward to drain the water.

Now historians have come up with an intriguing explanation for the feature it was built as a sundial. These were very inadequate for most situations. However some days are particularly special and that includes pentecost at the pantheon. The hole oculus 7 8 meters in diameter is the only source of light and is the connection between the temple and the gods above.

The huge 30ft hole built into the dome of rome s pantheon has mystified minds for centuries. Another beautiful effect takes place at pentecost when rose petals are sprinkled through the oculus after the annual mass.