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pantheon

PAN-thee-on /ˈpæn.θi.ən/

nounC1GRESAT

literaryacademic

All the gods of a people or religion collectively, or a temple dedicated to all gods.

Can refer literally to a collection of deities or metaphorically to a group of famous, revered individuals.

The story behind the word. From Greek 'pantheon', combining 'pan-' (all) and 'theos' (god). The most famous physical edifice bearing this name is the Roman Pantheon, commissioned by Marcus Agrippa and rebuilt by Emperor Hadrian, whose magnificent concrete dome still stands in Rome today.

Word relationships

gods: Gods is simple and general; pantheon specifies the structured collective body of deities.
hall of fame: Hall of fame is informal and modern; pantheon carries historical grandeur.

monotheism: Monotheism asserts the existence of only one God rather than a collective group of deities.

Commonly confused with

Parthenon: The Pantheon was a temple in Rome dedicated to ALL gods; the Parthenon was a temple in Athens dedicated specifically to Athena.

Word family

pantheistic (adjective): Relating to pantheism (believing God is in everything).
pantheist (noun): A person who believes that God and the universe are identical.

Collocations

the Greek pantheon
enter the pantheon
pantheon of gods

Example sentences

"Zeus stood at the head of the Olympian pantheon, governing over a complex hierarchy of gods and goddesses." Classical mythology textbook.
"Toni Morrison earned her place in the pantheon of great American writers." Metaphorical literary context.

Memory hook

PAN (ALL) + THEO (GOD): A place for ALL GODS. ALL the GODS under one dome.

When not to use

Do not use to describe monotheistic faith structures that worship a single deity.

Fun facts

The dome of the Pantheon in Rome remains the world's largest unreinforced concrete dome nearly 2,000 years after its construction.