211
• 1853: Col. J.B. Coraboeuf (1777–1859), the French geographer engineer who
took part in the measurements of 1809–1810, writes two articles in response to
the criticisms of the astronomers of the Collegio Romano.
• 1854–1855: to study the relationship between the meter and Roman mile and to
reevaluate the French measurements, Secchi measures a new geodetic baseline
along the Via Appia Antica.
• 1870: after several years of waiting, the Papal States officially enter into the
measurement of the Meridian Arc of Central Europe, for which a little tower
(called now Secchi tower) is built on the Roman tomb at Frattocchie (Fig. 12.5;
Zonetti et al. 2016).
• 1871–1878?: a plaque on the ruins of Capo di Bove (about 510 m from Cecilia
Metella, in the direction of Albano) is erected as a memorial to the Jesuits’ measurements and the work of the Italian Corps of Topographers.
• 1906: the Italian geodetic network is connected to the Capo di Bove Relic joining
the tower of the Primo Meridiano d’Italia built on Mount Mario.
• 1997: a plaque in French is cataloged at the Vatican Museums, which describes
the measurements of Boscovich and Maire.
• 1999: in July Endpoint A of the Secchi’s baseline is discovered in front of the
mausoleum of Cecilia Metella.
• 2011: the plaque in French preserved in the Vatican Museums (since 1997) is
identified (by the Author) as the one on Cecilia Metella by French geographers
to indicate Endpoint α.
• 2012: the manhole and part of the frame of Endpoint B is identified (Aebischer
et al. 2012).
• 2013: in January Endpoint B of Secchi’s baseline is discovered (by the author).
GPS and topographical surveys of the area begin.
• 2013: in March the discovery of Endpoint B is presented at an extraordinary
conference at the headquarters of the Via Appia Antica Regional Park.
• 2013: in September the Leica Geosystem performs a laser-scan survey of the
sepulcher, of Secchi tower, and of Endpoint B at Frattocchie.
• 2014: the Author publishes a collection of literary and online sources concerning
geodetic measurements along the Via Appia Antica.
• 2018: the National Committee for the Bicentenary of the Birth of Secchi is
established.
• 2019: the project to place a facsimile of the French plaque on the mausoleum of
Cecilia Metella is begun.
12.5 Final Considerations
Secchi’s interest in geodesy can be seen by his diligence in dealing with the
demanding tasks entrusted to him by the Papacy. But his interest was limited to the
two events described above, without giving him scope to pursue methodical studies
in this branch of knowledge. And furthermore, his interest, at least on paper, was in
12 The Measurement of the Geodetic Baselines Along the Via Appia Antica
• 1853: Col. J.B. Coraboeuf (1777–1859), the French geographer engineer who
took part in the measurements of 1809–1810, writes two articles in response to
the criticisms of the astronomers of the Collegio Romano.
• 1854–1855: to study the relationship between the meter and Roman mile and to
reevaluate the French measurements, Secchi measures a new geodetic baseline
along the Via Appia Antica.
• 1870: after several years of waiting, the Papal States officially enter into the
measurement of the Meridian Arc of Central Europe, for which a little tower
(called now Secchi tower) is built on the Roman tomb at Frattocchie (Fig. 12.5;
Zonetti et al. 2016).
• 1871–1878?: a plaque on the ruins of Capo di Bove (about 510 m from Cecilia
Metella, in the direction of Albano) is erected as a memorial to the Jesuits’ measurements and the work of the Italian Corps of Topographers.
• 1906: the Italian geodetic network is connected to the Capo di Bove Relic joining
the tower of the Primo Meridiano d’Italia built on Mount Mario.
• 1997: a plaque in French is cataloged at the Vatican Museums, which describes
the measurements of Boscovich and Maire.
• 1999: in July Endpoint A of the Secchi’s baseline is discovered in front of the
mausoleum of Cecilia Metella.
• 2011: the plaque in French preserved in the Vatican Museums (since 1997) is
identified (by the Author) as the one on Cecilia Metella by French geographers
to indicate Endpoint α.
• 2012: the manhole and part of the frame of Endpoint B is identified (Aebischer
et al. 2012).
• 2013: in January Endpoint B of Secchi’s baseline is discovered (by the author).
GPS and topographical surveys of the area begin.
• 2013: in March the discovery of Endpoint B is presented at an extraordinary
conference at the headquarters of the Via Appia Antica Regional Park.
• 2013: in September the Leica Geosystem performs a laser-scan survey of the
sepulcher, of Secchi tower, and of Endpoint B at Frattocchie.
• 2014: the Author publishes a collection of literary and online sources concerning
geodetic measurements along the Via Appia Antica.
• 2018: the National Committee for the Bicentenary of the Birth of Secchi is
established.
• 2019: the project to place a facsimile of the French plaque on the mausoleum of
Cecilia Metella is begun.
12.5 Final Considerations
Secchi’s interest in geodesy can be seen by his diligence in dealing with the
demanding tasks entrusted to him by the Papacy. But his interest was limited to the
two events described above, without giving him scope to pursue methodical studies
in this branch of knowledge. And furthermore, his interest, at least on paper, was in
12 The Measurement of the Geodetic Baselines Along the Via Appia Antica