The Nation's Pantheon in Brasilia

Overview:

The Nation’s Pantheon – Panteão da Pátria Tancredo Neves – in Brasília, the capital of Brazil, is a building dedicated to honoring the memory of Brazilian national heroes. It is one of 23 buildings in Brasília designed by Oscar Niemeyer that were chosen by the architect himself to be listed as National Heritage Sites by Iphan.

The Pantheon consecrates ten national heroes who represent ideals of freedom and democracy, especially Joaquim José da Silva Xavier, known as Tiradentes, the Civic Patron of the Brazilian Nation.

History:

Inaugurated on September 7, 1986 as part of the celebrations of Brazil’s independence, the Pantheon was built and donated to the Federal District by Fundação Bradesco. It is named after President Tancredo Neves (1910-1985), who was to be the first civilian president after two decades of military dictatorship in Brazil. Tancredo Neves, who was born in Minas Gerais, died on April 21, right before his inauguration and on the same day Tiradentes was killed in 1792.

The Red Room:

Vaguely shaped like a dove, the Pantheon has three floors. The first floor is the administrative area. On the second floor, the Freedom Mural, by artist Athos Bulcão, dominates the Red Room. The Freedom Mural, all in red, is composed of modules that evoke the red triangle at the center of a white rectangle - the symbol of the flag idealized for the free nation that would arise from the Independence Movement in Minas Gerais, or Inconfidência Mineira. That symbol and the words surrounding it - Libertas Quae Sera Tamen (Freedom, Even if Late) became the flag of Minas Gerais State.

The Black Room:

On the Pantheon's third floor, an immense black room that brings to mind the cosmos presents visitors with the Great Minas Gerais Conspiracy Panel by João Câmara Filho at one end and painted glass by Marianne Peretti at the other. In the center of the room is the Steel Book of National Heroes.

Minas Gerais Conspiracy Panel:

Seven works in black and white compose the panel commemorating the Minas Gerais Conspiracy. Artist João Câmara Filho portrayed key moments of the movement such as the stifling of the Brazilian textile industry by the Portuguese colonizers, a secret conspiracy meeting, the hanging of Tiradentes and the desecration of his body by quartering.

Marianne Peretti's Painted Glass:

Purple, red and white - representing introspection, passion and peace - are the colors of Marianne Peretti's composition for the Nation's Pantheon. Outside, a sculpture of a dove, also by Peretti, evokes the peace theme celebrated by the building's outline.

Nation's Pantheon Information:

Address: Praça dos Três Poderes, Brasília, DF, 70100-000
Phone: 61-3325-6244
e-mail: cc3poderes@sc.df.gov.br
Hours: Open daily, 9a-6p
Official website

The Steel Book:

Each page of the Steel Book at the Nation's Pantheon bears the name of one of 10 Brazilian national heroes. In Brazil, the honor of national hero can only be bestowed after 50 years have passed since the hero's death. Currently, these are the heroes whose names are inscribed in the Steel Book:

• Joaquim José da Silva Xavier (Tiradentes), leader and martyr of Inconfidência Mineira
• Marshall Deodoro da Fonseca, who proclaimed Brazil a Republic
• Zumbi dos Palmares, leader of Quilombo dos Palmares, Brazil's largest republic of runway slaves, and martyr of the fight for the Liberation of Slaves
• Dom Pedro I, who proclaimed the Independence of Brazil from Portugal
• Duke of Caxias, patron of the Brazilian Army
• José Plácido de Castro, who fought for the annexation of current-day Acre to the Brazilian territory
• Admiral Tamandaré, patron of the Brazilian navy
• Admiral Barroso, who led Brazil in the Riachuelo Battle
• Alberto Santos Dumont, father of Brazilian Aviation and patron of the Brazilian Air Force
• José Bonifácio de Andrada e Silva, Brazil Independence Patriarch.