Milan No. 1 / Mediolanum / Milano

Octagonal font inside the baptistry at the basilica of Santa Tecla in Milan, within the context of the text of an inscription thereof, a text attributed to Saint Ambrose. The Latin text of the inscription is reproduced in Gough (1792), after Gruter and Ciampini. Noted in Elorriaga (1998). Annabel J. Wharton's contribution in Bowersock (1999): "Excavations of the late 4th century baptistery of the Cathedral of St. Thecla in Milan revealed a large, octagonal font enclosed in an octagonal enclosure elaborated internally with alternating square and semicircular niches"; Wharton also addresses the issue of Ambrose's verse wich suggests that "the octagonal form of the structure carried considerable meaning for at least some members of its late antique audience." Wharton cites F. van der Meer's Atlas of the Early Christian World as the source for the text of the verse (Bowersock, 1999). Hayes (Sacred Destinations [www.sacred-destinations.com]) writes: "The 4th-century octagonal baptistery [...] the baptismal font, fed by canals seen directly opposite. Around the font are radiating apses. Traces of the marble pavement survive in both areas."