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Fig. 27 Le Monnier's meridian is marked as a brass strip (immediate foreground) which runs
across the southern arm of the transept of the Curch of St. Sulpice and passes inside the altar
railings (curving from the left foreground of this figure across the middle distance). It runs
across an elliptical brass plate (foreground) that marks the image of the Sun at the spring
equinox. It continues across the floor of the northern arm of the transept and runs up the north-
ern wall. It is marked on a so-called gnomon, seen here in the distance. Photo by the author
the meridian on which the church stands. Thus, in principle the transept, or cross-piece
of the cross, runs north-south along the meridian. The original 12 th century church of
St. Sulpice (whose foundations are in the crypt) was indeed accurately oriented to the
cardinal points. The enlarged 17 th century church was rotated slightly when it was
rebuilt, in order to fit within the square and buildings surrounding St. Sulpice.
The meridian extends from the south, below the transept window and under the
entrance aperture. The confessional is there as well, and people sit on chairs nearby,
waiting their turn, brooding over their sins (or, perhaps, inventing imaginary ones
that they can talk about). Occasionally the priest comes forth from the confessional
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