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Pantheon (Greek: παν, pan,
"all" + θεόν, theon, "of the gods"), in one sense, refers to all the gods of a particular religion or mythology, such as the gods of
Hinduism, Greek
mythology, Norse mythology. Since the 16th century the word has
also been used in a secular sense, meaning a set of exalted people.
In another sense, it is a name for a temple or sacred building dedicated to all the
gods of a particular religion. The this sense, the word is today used mainly to describe
three buildings:
- The Pantheon in Rome, originally built in the 2nd century as a
temple to all the Roman gods, has been used as a Christian church since the 7th century. Its front with columns and its large cupola served as the model for the other
Pantheons built beginning with the Renaissance.
- The Panthéon in Paris, an 18th century building today used as
a burial place for famous French people.
- The Pantheon in
London, an 18th century building now used as a theatre.
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