Oculus to the Sky. Rome, Italy. January 2009.
I studied in Rome the summer of 2003 and returned six years later with my sister Tracie. The Pantheon is on every visitor's 'must see' list and for good reason. Perhaps it's the Libra in me, but I love the Pantheon for its symmetry and balance. The dome was constructed in a way where a perfect sphere would fit underneath it. The distance from the ground to the oculus is 142 ft (43.3 m) and the diameter at the base of the dome is also 142 ft, so you can imagine a giant globe taking up the interior of the building. The oculus is also the main source of natural light and as the sun moves so does the beam, shining a spotlight on various parts of the interior throughout the day. It's beautiful to witness.