Quarky Explores Rome
How has a 1,900-year-old dome stayed up with a hole in the top?
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The story
Quarky visits the Pantheon and stares up at the open oculus. The hole removes weight from the heaviest place, the concrete gets lighter and thinner as it rises, and every stone presses inward so the dome holds itself. It is the oldest unreinforced concrete dome on Earth, still standing.
What you'll learn
- A dome carries weight by pressing sideways and down through every part of its curve.
- Lighter material and a hole at the top reduce the load at the weakest place.
- Roman concrete recipes changed as the dome rose, heavy at the bottom, light at the top.
- Quarky takeaway: sometimes taking something away makes a structure stronger.
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