The Pope's Dragon

Map

Clock Face, Sant' Atanasio dei Greci

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The church of Sant' Atanasio dei Greci, and the college attached to it, was founded by Pope Gregory XIII (r. 1572-85) in 1577.  It was designed by Giacomo della Porta (1532-1602) and consecrated in 1583. 

The pointer of the church's clock-face takes the form of a dragon, the heraldic charge of the coat of arms of the Boncompagni family to which Pope Gregory belonged. The puff of fire from its mouth points out the time. Or at least it did when the clock worked.  

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Sant' Atanasio dei Greci

Coat of Arms of Pope Gregory XIII, Via del Babuino