The first Pantheon was built at the end of the 1st century BC as a temple dedicated to all the gods of the Roman world. The building was later rebuilt, and in 609 it became a church. Its dome, which is one of the largest in the world, is famous for its large central hole, called “oculus”, which is the only light source in the entire building. According to the legend, in ancient times the forum had been sealed with a large bronze cone, transported to Rome by devils: but when Pope Boniface consecrated the Pantheon as a church, the evil spirits fled away from the oculus, taking the pine cone with them!
THE CAPITOLINE WOLF
The Capitoline Wolf is a bronze sculpture depicting a scene from the legend of the founding of Rome. According to the legend, the vestal Rhea Silvia was fertilized by the god Mars and gave birth to twins, Romulus and Remus. When Numitor, grandfather of the twins, was overthrown by his brother Amulius, the usurper ordered them to be cast into the Tiber River. They were rescued by a she-wolf who cared for them until a herdsman, Faustulus, found and raised them. The cave of the she-wolf was the legendary lupercal.
THE COLOSSEUM
The Colosseum is one of the most important symbols of the history of Rome: the amphitheater was commissioned around 70 AD by Emperor Vespasian as a gift to the Roman people, but the current structure represents only 1/3 of the original construction. According to a legend, in ancient times the Colosseum was a pagan temple, where the devil was worshiped, and his name derived from the question “Colis Eum?” (“Do you adore him?”), which the priests used to ask to adepts at the end of each rite. Marziale told that in the early years the amphitheater was also used for the naumachies, the naval battles, which were then abandoned due to the complexity of the preparations they required.