I spent the first twenty six years of my life in Rome. I used to go for ice cream to a popular place near the Pantheon and I remem ber the excitement I felt, beyond the chocolate and whipped cream, when I entered this ancient Roman temple. After staring at the "shower" of light coming from the circular opening at the center of the dome, as strong as a spotlight, I remember being attracted almost hypnotically to the place below the opening. I remember counting the coffers carving the concave dome, com posed in five rows of circular arrays, and could feel the power and protection created by the...