THE PANTHEON, THE HISTORY OF THE “DONKEY’S EARS”
Nowadays, few people know that the iconic beauty of the Pantheon, with its majestic pronaos and clean facade, was compromised for centuries. Looking at old prints reveals a surprising truth: the building once sported a pair of clumsy side bell towers, popularly known as the “Donkey’s Ears” (Orecchie d’Asino).
These additions were not original but dated back to the Baroque period.
They were commissioned by Pope Urban VIII (yes, the same one responsible for the bronze at St. Peter’s) and designed, in part, by Gian Lorenzo Bernini in the seventeenth century, with the aim of adapting the ancient Roman temple to its new function as a Christian church. The intent was to give the building an appearance more consistent with the religious architecture of the time, but the result was widely criticized by contemporaries for having spoiled the Pantheon’s classical harmony.
The turning point came only after the Unification of Italy. With Rome becoming the capital of the Country and the Pantheon elevated to a National Shrine, there was a strong need to restore the monument’s original dignity and purity. Thus, in 1883, the restoration project led to the definitive removal of these bell towers.
Freed from the cumbersome “ears,” the Pantheon could finally reveal its magnificent sobriety, returning to show the world the architectural grandeur intended by Emperor Hadrian. It is a perfect example of how art history is also made up of corrections and returns to the origins!