The Pantheon is the best preserved temple of Ancient Rome, but in this episode we'll explore some huge, structural rooms of the Pantheon (the grottoni) that are rarely accessed. Indeed, most people don't even know they exist! How is this possible? What purpose did they serve? Let's explore!

0:00 Introduction
1:14 Pantheon's secret rooms (the grottoes- grottoni)- floor plan; grottoni rooms and Basilica of Neptune: engineering necessities of Pantheon
4:13 Tour of the grottoni rooms
6:42 Pantheon brickstamps and Basilica of Neptune decorations
8:09 Grottoni vaulting

There is a lot of up to date scholarship on the grottoni. I direct you, in particular, to the work and publications of architectural historian Mark Wilson Jones, who has written extensively on the subject. I've had the privilege over the years to examine the Pantheon with him on location, alone and with students!

Keep up with the adventures of Darius Arya, the archaeologist with access. Ancient history in real life! He lives in Rome and is a practicing archaeologist and tv host. And great ready for a lot more travel: Jordan, Egypt, Croatia, and more!

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