Paris' Pantheon and Its Many Gods - Part 1

I had heard of the beauty of le Panthéon – the Pantheon – in Paris long before I took the time to visit it. So, on my first solo trip to the City of Light, I decided that this was the perfect opportunity to do so. And this fascinating monument to French history did not disappoint. As I was filled with awe from the first moment I saw it.

Parisian Delights

I was staying in a lovely little apartment in the 16th arrondissement – municipality – just off the Champs-Élysées. From here I made my way to the Latin Quarter by Metro. Feeling a little peckish, I was happy to come across a crêpe vendor as I walked along Boulevard Saint-Michel. I was munching on a savoury treat, enjoying its crispy filigree of Gruyère, when I came upon an intersection. Looking to my right, I saw the magnificent Panthéon standing atop Montagne Sainte-Geneviève – Saint Genevieve Mountain, in all its glory.

From Consecrated to Secular

Originally commissioned by King Louis XV as a church in honour of Sainte-Geneviève, the patron saint of Paris, the beautiful domed roof of le Panthéon was crowned with a cross. However, its completion in 1790 coincided with the French Revolution and the supression of the church in France. And this affected its standing as a religious site. For the Revolutionary government of the day was now focused on promoting reason as the basis for progress. Thus, they decided to convert le Panthéon into a mausoleum dedicated to honouring notable Frenchmen. As a result, the entrance now bears the inscription: ‘AUX GRANDS HOMMES LA PATRIE RECONNAISSANTE’ – ‘TO GREAT MEN THE GRATEFUL HOMELAND’.

Honouring ‘Every God’

Over time, the role of this gorgeous, Neoclassical edifice flipped back and forth between these two opposing purposes. However, in the end, its permanent function has settled on that of a national mausoleum. This is somewhat fitting I think, since ‘Pantheon’ in Greek translates to ‘Every God’. Thus, while original religious mosaics and paintings honouring the life of Sainte-Geneviève and others, such as Jean d’Arc – Joan of Arc – still reside in the breath-taking domed interior, they are now accompanied by sculptures honouring artistic and scientific achievements.

The Age of Enlightenment

This includes the beautiful sculpture below, which caught my eye. It honours Denis Diderot and his quest to spread the message of The Age of Enlightenment through the creation of the Encyclopedia. Another display that I found fascinating was the Foucault Pendulum. French physicist Léon Foucault designed this device as a way of demonstrating the effect of the Earth’s rotation. And it was first installed in the Paris Observatory in February 1851. A few weeks later, he installed a second version in the Panthéon. It consists of a 28 kilogram, brass-coated, lead bob suspended from the Panthéon dome by a 67 metre long wire. The pendulum swings with the movement of the earth, making a full circle in approximately 31.8 hours. It is both fascinating and mesmerizing to watch.