early 15c., Panteon "the Pantheon in Rome," from Latin Pantheon, name of a temple dedicated to all the gods built in Rome c. 25 B.C.E. by Agrippa (since 609 C.E. made into the Christian church of Santa Maria Rotonda), from Greek Pantheion (hieron) "(shrine) of all the gods," from pantheion, neuter of pantheios, from pan- "all" (see pan-) + theios "of or for the gods," from theos "god" (from PIE root *dhes-, forming words for religious concepts). In reference to any group of exalted persons from 1590s.
