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The present day Pantheon was the third attempt at such a building. The first two burned down before a successful one was built in about 125 AD. It was commissioned by Emperor Hadrian who had a great love of Greek arcitechture and style.

Hadrian had the inscription from the old Pantheon carved into the facade of the new one. This inscription reads "M·AGRIPPA·L·F·COS·TERTIVM·FECIT" which means Marcus Agrippa, son of Lucius, built during his third consulate.

When the Pantheon was first built it had statues of all the gods surrounding an altar in the center.

The temple was built for all the gods, but the Emperor Phocas gave the building to Pope Boniface IV in 609. The building was converted to a Christian church named Santa Maria ad Martyres. The building becoming a church was the only thing that saved it from being destroyed during the early medieval times.

Since the Renaissance period, the Temple has been used as a tomb. Many famous artists and architects were buried there as well as royalty.
The bronze ceiling of the original reconstructed Pantheon was melted down in the seventeenth century by order of Pope Urban VIII.
In present day, there are still Italian monarchists who go to the Pantheon to watch over royal tombs.