Which image depicts a dome-supported temple in Rome, famous for its oculus?

• A. Pantheon
• B. Parthenon
• C. Maison Carree
• D. Pont du Gard

Answer: (A)

Recognizing a dome-lit Roman temple comes from key architectural clues: a circular interior space (rotunda), topped by a large dome with a central opening called an oculus. The Pantheon in Rome fits this perfectly. It was built as a temple and features a massive dome made of concrete with an oculus at the top, which provides light and a dramatic interior effect. The front has a classical portico with columns, but the standout feature inside is the oculus in the dome. The other structures don’t share this combination: the Parthenon is a Greek temple in Athens with a rectangular plan and no dome; the Maison Carrée is a rectangular Roman temple in Nîmes with no dome or oculus; the Pont du Gard is an ancient aqueduct, not a temple. So the image showing the dome-supported temple in Rome with the oculus is the Pantheon.