Palaeography Quiz?

**~~Osweo~~** · 09-12-2009, 01:48 PM

We have botany, entomology, geography and so on... Is this idea doomed to failure?

Let's see!

Please tell me, about this image:

- What script is it?
- What language?
- What is the content?

As a clue, or an alternative, this is a little easier, being a familiar text known to all here:

**~~Osweo~~** · 10-12-2009, 10:41 PM

Damn. I knew this would be slow, but I didn't think it'd be a complete non-starter!

Here's a handy hint:
http://www.theapricity.com/forum/sho...236#post114236

**Loddfafner** · 10-12-2009, 10:55 PM

Levantine Iberian, Bororitta variant? Is it that prayer that starts something like "ave Maria, gee its good to seeya?" Or was it, "Hail Mary, full of grace, help us find a parking place"?

**~~Osweo~~** · 10-12-2009, 11:18 PM

Originally Posted by Loddfafner

Levantine Iberian, Bororitta variant? Is it that prayer that starts something like "ave Maria, gee its good to seeya?" Or was it, "Hail Mary, full of grace, help us find a parking place"?

Huzzah!!!!! It certainly is! NOW, for the real one; what about my first text? Rather more complicated, but not beyond the reason of an educated man...

**Loddfafner** · 10-12-2009, 11:46 PM

I can neither match it with any inscription on the net nor can I make out anything intelligible by attempting to transliterate it.

**~~Osweo~~** · 10-12-2009, 11:54 PM

Originally Posted by Loddfafner

I can neither match it with any inscription on the net nor can I make out anything intelligible by attempting to transliterate it.

Hehe, nobody has inscribed it anywhere, yet!

How about at least transcribing it here to your best abilities, and seeing if anyone else can make anything of it?

**Loddfafner** · 10-13-2009, 12:40 AM

My transcription is this:

ANSUBIKAS
DOUTI
MAMUKIATIS
EIORTII
BELISAMI
SOSIN
NEMETON

I recognize the goddess, Belisama, and know that a nemeton is a Celtic sacred spot. Google leads me to knowledge of an inscription in Gaulois that reads:

Segomaros Ouilloneos tooutious Namausatis eiōrou Bēlēsami sosin nemēton

"Segomarus Uilloneos, citizen [toutius] of Namausus, dedicated this sanctuary [nemeton] to Belesama

Mamucium is Manchester, so I can safely assume that "ansubikas" is a variant of Osweo.

Therefore, the inscription reads, "Oswiu, citizen of Manchester, dedicated this sanctuary to Belisama."

The inscription should finish with:

"... and has taken "geek" to a whole new level."

**~~Osweo~~** · 10-13-2009, 12:50 AM

Originally Posted by Loddfafner

Therefore, the inscription reads, "Oswiu, citizen of Manchester, dedicated this sanctuary to Belisama."

The inscription should finish with:

"... and has taken "geek" to a whole new level."

But well done!

I just thought I'd try to write some Celtic in one of the oldest alphabets a Celt ever thought of using. Not so unwieldy as you might think, is it, this Iberian semi-syllabary?

You might offer your own now, or step aside for the geekier...