pantheon
PAN-thee-on
/ˈpæn.θi.ɒn/
All the gods of a people or religion collectively; or a temple dedicated to all the gods.
Can also metaphorically refer to a group of particularly respected, famous, or important people in a field.
The story behind the word. From Greek 'pantheion' (a temple of all gods), from 'pan-' (all) and 'theos' (god). Famous today via Rome's ancient preserved Pantheon.
Word relationships
- gods: 'Gods' refers to individual figures; 'pantheon' highlights their collective hierarchy and system.
Commonly confused with
- Parthenon: The Parthenon is a specific temple to Athena in Athens; Pantheon is either a temple to all gods in Rome or the collection of gods.
Word family
- pantheonic (adjective): Relating to a pantheon.
Collocations
- Norse pantheon
- Greek pantheon
- pantheon of gods
- literary pantheon
Example sentences
- "Thor and Odin occupied paramount seats within the Norse pantheon." Comparative Mythology
- "Toni Morrison has secured her place in the pantheon of modern American literature." Modern Metaphorical Usage
Memory hook
PAN means ALL, THEON means GODS. Pantheon = ALL the gods together. All the gods of a culture under one roof.
When not to use
Do not use when referring to a single god in isolation.
Fun facts
- The Pantheon in Rome features the world's largest unreinforced concrete dome, constructed almost 2,000 years ago.
Related words
Explore more words
temple, monotheism, veneration, mausoleum, omnipotent, diverse
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