"This collection of essays is the first to trace the transformation of the monumental idea of a pantheon from its origins in Greek and Roman antiquity to its later appearance as a means of commemorating and enshrining the ideals of national identity and statehood. Illuminating the emergence of the pantheon in a range of different cultures and periods by exploring its different manifestations and implementations, the essays open up new historical perspectives on the formation of national and civic identities."--Jacket.