Whilst dig up an ancient metropolis in southwest Cyprus , a team of archeologists unearthed a rather challenging aim - an amulet inscribed with a 59 - letter palindrome written in Greek . Palindromes are sequence of characters , such as Holy Writ or turn , which read the same backward or frontward . “ Go advert a salami , I ’m a lasagna hog , ” is an example of a palindrome .
The discovery was made back in 2011 by archeologist working on thePaphos Agora Project , an explorative venture of a gather place ( agora ) at the ancient city of Nea Paphos . Paphosis one of the most important archeological website in Cyprus and is the most notable place for hero-worship Aphrodite , the Greek goddess of love , in ancient time .
Amuletsare small target that are either wear down or bid to a deity because the owner believes that it will magically impart a certain power or form of protective cover from scathe . The amulet , which is thought to be around 1,500 age old , is inscribe on both side . One side has several images , such as Harpocrates , the deity of silence , whereas the other feature a palindromic inscription written in Greek . It reads :
ΙΑΕW ΒΑΦΡΕΝΕΜ ΟΥΝΟΘΙΛΑΡΙ ΚΝΙΦΙΑΕΥΕ ΑΙΦΙΝΚΙΡΑΛ ΙΘΟΝΥΟΜΕ ΝΕΡΦΑΒW ΕΑΙ
As report byLive Science , this translates to“Iahweh ( a god ) is the pallbearer of the secret name , the Leo of Re strong in his shrine . ”The episode actually have a couple of mistake , with a “ p ” written twice when it should have been a “ v. ”
The use of palindromes can be trace back to at least2,000 years ago , but they became popular during the Middle Ages . It is thought that other Christians may have develop these successiveness as asecret mode to signal their presenceto each other without risking queer themselves to persecution .
As advert , the other side of the amulet feature several different images , such as a mummy lying on a boat , which could map the Egyptian god Osiris . A picture of Harpocrates , the immortal of silence , sitting on a stool and hold his hand to his lips is also shown . A dog - headed creature of Greek and Egyptian mythology , called a cynocephalus , is also testify , which seems to be mimicking Harpocrates ’ affectation . Further descriptions of the talisman can be find in the journalStudies in Ancient Art and civilisation .
Interestingly , according to the author of the daybook clause Joachim Śliwa , some of the look-alike have been given strange features which could indicate that the inscriber may have been confused about some of the fabulous type comprise . For lesson , Harpocrates should be sitting on a white lily flower rather than a potty , and should not have been present mummy bandages .
[ ViaLive Science , orphic Universe , Paphos Agora Project , andAncient Origins ]
