Identify this bronze seal, what city is it located and what does it represent?

In short, this symbol is part of one of the most interesting, unique and fun art exhibits in Paris, France. It is one of 135 bronze plaques set in the ground along the imaginary Meridian line running North-South through Paris.

In order to tell you the long story about the Meridian medallions, I'll have to start it way back in 1667. It was this year when the Observatory of Paris was built by the architect Claude Perrault. What makes this building unique is that it's four facades are oriented towards the four cardinal points of the compass. The median line of the building defined the meridian of Paris from 1667 to 1884. All of France relied on this Meridian to set their watches, navigate the waters and such.

However, the United Kingdom proclaimed in 1884 that "The new millennium officially starts in Greenwich," by building the world's biggest dome on the Greenwich meridian - the imaginary perpendicular line passing just east of London from the north to south poles - and the world powers agreed on Greenwich as the prime meridian. Well, everyone agreed... accept for France.

France clung to the Paris meridian (now longitude 2º20 east) as a rival to Greenwich until 1911 for timekeeping purposes and 1914 for navigational purposes. Statues built in the early 1800's representing the north and south bearing points still stand in Paris. The mire du nord can be found in Montmartre just to the east of the Moulin de la Galette. 5½ miles to the south, the mire du sud stands in the Parc Montsouris.

The Paris Observatory, the icon for the Paris Meridian, was directed by François Arago (1786-1853) during the height of the Meridian issue. According to his biographers, the prominent astronomer and political Parisian was restless, inquisitive, volatile and full of enthusaism and optimism. So whom better for Paris to pay tribute to? Arago was recognized for his French accomplishments in 1995 when the Netherlands artist Jean Dibbets marked the imaginary Meridian line across Paris with 135 bronze plaques of 12 cm (about 5") in diameter set in the ground.

The Parisian magazine Paris Voice put it best when they wrote: "Dibbets' project practically defines conceptual art: you have to know to look for it, and you have to know what it means, and then it becomes wonderful, one of the most touching of Paris monuments."

All of the 135 bronze medallions are located in the II, VI, IX, X and XVII arrondissements. If you need help finding them and know a little French, try this site. Good luck!

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