5 ms·

Here is a nice picture of the Pantheon, mentioned in the article as a prime example of these incredibly durable Roman concrete structures: https://commons.wiki

by akolbe 4y ago

Here is a nice picture of the Pantheon, mentioned in the article as a prime example of these incredibly durable Roman concrete structures: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pantheon11111.jpg#/media/File:Pantheon11111.jpg https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pantheon11111.jpg#/m... Not bad for something built nearly 2,000 years ago.

insane_dreamer 4y ago
I wonder what percentage of the original stones are left (given that it was repaired and restored over the centuries)
- ggm 4y ago
  I don't believe the dome structure was radically altered across time. It's possible I misunderstood but my belief was it was only cosmetic changes to the dome itself. Other structural changes were made to the portico and doorways.
- helloworld11 4y ago
  Unlike many ancient structures, the Pantheon has mostly been left intact across the millennia. The Dome is entirely original and so is most of the remaining structure. From what I know, the majority of the restoration and renovation work has been to the interior ground-level walls and some of the exterior along the ground level, but even these are mostly minor renovations. In this case, what you see truly is for the most part what always was, and especially for the main awe-inspiring part, the great dome.
- Bayart 4y ago
  The Pantheon is very notable among Roman monuments for having little done over the years other than cosmetic upgrades.
- peoplefromibiza 4y ago
  of the original Pantheon from 27 B.C. very little remained. It was rebuilt after the fires of 80 A.C. and 110 A.C. damaged the original structure. It's been mostly unchanged after that.
ggm 4y ago
Uses pumice in aggregate as aerated mass to lighten the concrete and also varies concrete thickness by height in the dome to reduce load
- galaxyLogic 4y ago
  And the concrete self-heals with water
Maursault 4y ago
> Not bad for something built nearly 2,000 years ago. According to the Pyramids, Stonehenge, Newgrange, Watson Brake, et al., it's a little premature to suggest that. Let's check back in 3,000 years.
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]
- jacquesm 4y ago
  Hehe, that's funny. But the OP clearly meant it relative to other stuff built 2000 years ago, most of which has vanished without leaving a trace, maybe a couple of foundation stones buried under a meter of new topsoil. Have an upvote, it's sad to see you grayed out.
- peoplefromibiza 4y ago
  stone != concrete edit: we have a > 2,000 years old pyramid in Rome too, and it's in perfect shape, because stone != concrete https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9d/Cimeti%C3%A8re_anglais_de_Rome.jpg/1280px-Cimeti%C3%A8re_anglais_de_Rome.jpg https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9d/Ci...
  - ectopod 4y ago
    What it is: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyramid_of_Cestius https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyramid_of_Cestius
  - moloch-hai 4y ago
    Funny, its perimeter vs. height approximates pi, rather than the originals' 2pi.
- GuB-42 4y ago
  The pyramids are essentially just piles of rocks. The impressive part about them is not really how they stood out the test of time, in fact they lost most of their finer details, but how an ancient civilization managed to make piles of rocks that big. The Pantheon is not a pile of rocks, it is made of engineered materials (concrete), with domes and overhangs. Unlike "pile of rocks" architecture that essentially can't fail, if it wasn't well engineered, it would have collapsed into something unrecognizable.
pachico 4y ago
It doesn't matter how many times I see it, every time I go to Rome and find myself in front of the Pantheon, I get overwhelmed by it.
- benreesman 4y ago
  With zero sarcasm, when I read “every time I go to Rome” I feel that I took a wrong turn in life somewhere. Fucking awesome mate.
  - pachico 4y ago
    Well, I lived in Italy for 10 years. Going to Rome from time to time wasn't that hard. Now I live in Spain and I continue to fly to Rome now and then. In Europe, distances are easy to overcome.
    - rollcat 4y ago
      In Europe, 100km is a long way; in the US, 100 years is a long time.
      - hgsgm 4y ago
        Do you mean 1000km? The thread is about Rome being easy to reach.
        rollcat 4y ago
        It's just a saying, having the same number on both ends (but measuring different things) is the part that is supposed to make you think it's clever ;)
      - KptMarchewa 4y ago
        Unless you fly ryanair for 10$
        4y ago

by akolbe 4y ago

insane_dreamer 4y ago

I wonder what percentage of the original stones are left (given that it was repaired and restored over the centuries)

ggm 4y ago
I don't believe the dome structure was radically altered across time. It's possible I misunderstood but my belief was it was only cosmetic changes to the dome itself. Other structural changes were made to the portico and doorways.
helloworld11 4y ago
Unlike many ancient structures, the Pantheon has mostly been left intact across the millennia. The Dome is entirely original and so is most of the remaining structure. From what I know, the majority of the restoration and renovation work has been to the interior ground-level walls and some of the exterior along the ground level, but even these are mostly minor renovations. In this case, what you see truly is for the most part what always was, and especially for the main awe-inspiring part, the great dome.
Bayart 4y ago
The Pantheon is very notable among Roman monuments for having little done over the years other than cosmetic upgrades.
peoplefromibiza 4y ago
of the original Pantheon from 27 B.C. very little remained. It was rebuilt after the fires of 80 A.C. and 110 A.C. damaged the original structure. It's been mostly unchanged after that.

ggm 4y ago

Uses pumice in aggregate as aerated mass to lighten the concrete and also varies concrete thickness by height in the dome to reduce load

galaxyLogic 4y ago
And the concrete self-heals with water

Maursault 4y ago

> Not bad for something built nearly 2,000 years ago. According to the Pyramids, Stonehenge, Newgrange, Watson Brake, et al., it's a little premature to suggest that. Let's check back in 3,000 years.

deleted 4y ago
[deleted]
jacquesm 4y ago
Hehe, that's funny. But the OP clearly meant it relative to other stuff built 2000 years ago, most of which has vanished without leaving a trace, maybe a couple of foundation stones buried under a meter of new topsoil. Have an upvote, it's sad to see you grayed out.
peoplefromibiza 4y ago
stone != concrete edit: we have a > 2,000 years old pyramid in Rome too, and it's in perfect shape, because stone != concrete https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9d/Cimeti%C3%A8re_anglais_de_Rome.jpg/1280px-Cimeti%C3%A8re_anglais_de_Rome.jpg https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9d/Ci...
- ectopod 4y ago
  What it is: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyramid_of_Cestius https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyramid_of_Cestius
- moloch-hai 4y ago
  Funny, its perimeter vs. height approximates pi, rather than the originals' 2pi.
GuB-42 4y ago
The pyramids are essentially just piles of rocks. The impressive part about them is not really how they stood out the test of time, in fact they lost most of their finer details, but how an ancient civilization managed to make piles of rocks that big. The Pantheon is not a pile of rocks, it is made of engineered materials (concrete), with domes and overhangs. Unlike "pile of rocks" architecture that essentially can't fail, if it wasn't well engineered, it would have collapsed into something unrecognizable.

pachico 4y ago

It doesn't matter how many times I see it, every time I go to Rome and find myself in front of the Pantheon, I get overwhelmed by it.

benreesman 4y ago
With zero sarcasm, when I read “every time I go to Rome” I feel that I took a wrong turn in life somewhere. Fucking awesome mate.
- pachico 4y ago
  Well, I lived in Italy for 10 years. Going to Rome from time to time wasn't that hard. Now I live in Spain and I continue to fly to Rome now and then. In Europe, distances are easy to overcome.
  - rollcat 4y ago
    In Europe, 100km is a long way; in the US, 100 years is a long time.
    - hgsgm 4y ago
      Do you mean 1000km? The thread is about Rome being easy to reach.
      - rollcat 4y ago
        It's just a saying, having the same number on both ends (but measuring different things) is the part that is supposed to make you think it's clever ;)
    - KptMarchewa 4y ago
      Unless you fly ryanair for 10$
      - 4y ago