The Myth of Agrippa: Who Was the Man Behind Rome's Pantheon?

Born in 63 BCE in a rural area outside Rome, Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa could hardly have imagined that his name would still be spoken today. Coming from a modest family, he quickly rose to prominence as a general and politician, but his talents were not limited to strategy and battle. Architecture would play a crucial role in his life, and thanks to it, we are writing these lines today. Want to learn more about his connection to the Pantheon in Rome? Let us tell you.

Agrippa's Beginnings: His Learning

It so happened that during his education, Agrippa crossed paths with Octavian, whom we would later know as Emperor Caesar Augustus. Both, during their education, developed a strong friendship, something that saved the older brother of Marcus Agrippa, who had been captured on the opposing side to Julius Caesar in the second civil war.

Marcus always remained loyal to Julius Caesar, who rewarded him by sending him to study with the Macedonian legions alongside Octavian himself. Here he learned architecture, but he also stood out thanks to his ability to lead masses.

Agrippa as a Politician and Warrior

A few months after having started his studies, news of Julius Caesar’s assassination arrived, so Octavian marched to Rome, where, named successor, he took the name Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus. He soon realized that he would need legions, so he relied on Agrippa to recruit troops, but it was not the only thing he asked of him.

He also had to take part in the case against Gaius Cassius Longinus, Julius Caesar's assassin, so we can infer the great importance Agrippa had for Octavian. Furthermore, that same year, he was also elected Tribune of the Plebs, so he was definitely becoming part of the Roman Senate.

While Augustus planned to consolidate his power, Agrippa was the man who helped him carry out those plans on the battlefield. One of the most important military feats was his role in the Battle of Actium in 31 BCE, where he defeated the army of Mark Antony and Cleopatra.

This decisive victory secured Augustus’ control over the Roman Empire and sealed the downfall of his rivals. Agrippa, as commander of the fleet, showed outstanding naval skill. His tactical knowledge and ability to innovate in naval warfare—such as constructing ships with better features for battle, which gives him credit as a future planner of Rome’s Pantheon—secured his success.

However, Agrippa always remained in the background, preferring to serve Rome from the shadows rather than seeking power for himself.

Agrippa: The Builder of Rome’s Pantheon

As we mentioned at the beginning of this article, although Agrippa was an exceptional politician and military man, there is one thing for which we cannot forget him: the Pantheon of Agrippa. As an aedile in 33 BCE, he devoted himself to improving Rome's infrastructure, building aqueducts, baths, and improving roads.

Thus, it is evident that Marcus Agrippa cared about the daily life of the Romans, improving the city's water supply by constructing several aqueducts, including the Aqua Virgo. He also oversaw the construction of public baths and plazas, transforming Republican Rome into a monumental city worthy of being the center of the world.

However, his most transcendental work was Rome’s Pantheon, the temple dedicated to all the gods. The original building, constructed in 27 BCE, is not the one we can see today (which was later rebuilt by Emperor Hadrian in the 2nd century CE), but it did lay the foundation for one of the city's most emblematic monuments.

Agrippa personally oversaw the construction of the Pantheon, and his architectural vision was revolutionary. The original design of the temple incorporated innovations that made it stand out above any other structure in Rome, such as a wide façade with majestic columns. Although the temple was destroyed, fortunately, the inscription on the frieze of the current Pantheon is the original, still paying tribute to him:

M·AGRIPPA·L·F·COS·TERTIVM·FECIT, “Marcus Agrippa, son of Lucius, built this during his third consulship.”

Agrippa died in 12 BCE, at the age of 51, leaving a huge void in Augustus’ court.

Despite the centuries that have passed, the legacy of Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa remains present in every corner of the city, from the baths and aqueducts he built to the monumental structure of Rome’s Pantheon, which continues to bear witness to the passage of time and is the main reason we cannot forget the figure of Agrippa.