Pantheon - Definition and Overview

Pantheon (Greek: παν, pan, "all" + θεόν, theon, "of the gods"), in one sense, is the set of 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. Today the word is 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.