pantheon

Originally, a "pantheon" meant all the gods of a people or a temple connected with them, most famously the great domed building in Rome. Over time, the word moved beyond religion and buildings. Today, it often means a group of people at the very highest level of respect or fame, such as a "pantheon of heroes" or great scientists. It can also describe a top group of things, like a pantheon of classic films. If you picture the Roman Pantheon as a grand place linked with all the gods, it is easier to see how the word came to suggest greatness and lasting importance.

The word "pantheon" comes from ancient Greek—pan meaning "all" and theos meaning "god." In its oldest sense, it referred to all the gods of a religion together. It could also refer to a temple associated with all the gods, and the best-known example is the Pantheon in Rome, the famous domed building that still stands today.

In modern English, "pantheon" often has a broader, metaphorical meaning. We use it to describe a group of people who are remembered as the greatest in a field. Think of the "pantheon of great writers," such as Shakespeare, Austen, and Tolstoy, or the "pantheon of sports icons," like Michael Jordan and Serena Williams. In this use, the word suggests that these people have reached a rare level of excellence and lasting fame.

The term can also be extended to things, especially when talking about the finest examples of a kind. Someone might speak of a "pantheon of classic films" or a "pantheon of great inventions." Whether it points to gods, famous people, or outstanding things, the word carries a feeling of greatness, honor, and lasting importance.