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All Italy Rome Meridian Line of the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels and the Martyrs

Meridian Line of the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels and the Martyrs

Installed in an act of one-upsmanship, the annual sundial in this church is also a symbolic victory for the Gregorian calendar.

Rome, Italy

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Meridian Line of the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels and the Martyrs   Wikipedia
Meridian Line of the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels and the Martyrs   zackofalltrades / Atlas Obscura User
Meridian Line of the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels and the Martyrs   zackofalltrades / Atlas Obscura User
Meridian Line of the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels and the Martyrs   zackofalltrades / Atlas Obscura User
Meridian Line of the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels and the Martyrs   Wikipedia
Rome - Santa Maria degli Angeli   philoursmars / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
Rome - Santa Maria degli Angeli   philoursmars / Atlas Obscura User
Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri   Jaszmina Szendrey / Atlas Obscura User
Ray of light at noon   alxndr / Atlas Obscura User
The size of the sun spot changes over the year   alxndr / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
Outside view of the Basilica.   Dr Alan P Newman / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Italy's Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels and the Martyrs was built in the 16th century on the remains of an ancient Roman bath, much to the delight of the pope who commissioned the meridian-aligned sundial in the space, finding it a fitting triumph over pagan time-keeping (as well as a similar Spanish construction).

Later on in the 18th century, a meridian sundial had been built in a Spanish church that, while Christian, was not in Rome. To rectify this disparity of grandeur the sitting pope had the meridian line clock at the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels and the Martyrs built. The location was chosen for several practical reasons including the building's Southernly orientation, high ceilings, and historic architecture which had little chance of shifting (which would eventually make the meridian clock less accurate). However the more salient reasoning behind the meridian's placement was the basilica site's former use as a Roman bath. The pope saw this as a fitting symbol of the victory of the infallible Gregorian calendar over the secular beliefs of ancient times.

The meridian clock remains in working order to this day. Each day the sun aligns perfectly with a hole in the basilica's ceiling sending a ray of light that lands on the line at exact noon. The time of year can also be determined by where on the line the light falls, as it veers towards either end of the line approaching each solstice. The line itself is made of bronze, encased in white marble, making not only surprisingly accurate, but beautiful as well.    

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Added By

zackofalltrades

Edited By

Dror, Jaszmina Szendrey, EricGrundhauser, philoursmars...

  • Dror
  • Jaszmina Szendrey
  • EricGrundhauser
  • philoursmars
  • Dr Alan P Newman
  • Collector of Experiences
  • alxndr

Published

June 6, 2013

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Sources
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Maria_degli_Angeli_e_dei_Martiri#The_meridian_line
  • http://www.sacred-destinations.com/italy/rome-santa-maria-degli-angeli
  • http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Europe/Italy/Lazio/Rome-144659/Things_To_Do-Rome-Basilica_di_Santa_Maria_degli_Angeli-BR-1.html
Meridian Line of the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels and the Martyrs
4604 Via Giuseppe Romita
Rome, 00185
Italy
41.903056, 12.496944
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