DISCOVER ARCHAEOASTRONOMY IN THE PANTHEON IN ROME!
THE ARC AND THE SQUARE OF LIGHT OF APRIL
6-7-8 April, 12:45 am
As every year, on 6-7-8 April starting at a quarter to 1:00 pm (12:45) the extraordinary sacred illuminations of the Pantheon: the Arc of Light and the Square of Light will be seen.
The Arc of Light perfectly matches the masonry arch above the portal, which has a special horseshoe shape.
This happens because the oculus of the dome, through which the rays of the Sun enter, has a diameter of nine meters, and the masonry arch above the portal has the same width, nine meters.
The Square of Light illuminates a marble square on the floor in front of the portal itself, in which a circle is inserted.
The Pantheon is the masterpiece of the extraordinary construction skills of the Romans, who 1900 years ago were able to design and obtain those luminous «special effects», without computers or artificial intelligence.
The sacred illuminations (hierophanies) had a precise symbolic meaning linked to the cults of Apollo, Diana, Cybele and Jupiter Optimus Maximus. Also the square that contains a circle was a sacred symbol.
We explain it in detail together with the building technique in the book «Pantheon. Architecture and Light», also in English edition, published by Rirella Editrice.