Latin .....

apanderson · Post by **apanderson** » Wed Jun 21, 2006 12:47 am

Hi folks,

Can anyone on the site read or translate Latin?

I've found an old inscription on a gravestone (I think it's a gravestone!) but I haven't a clue whether it refers to anyone or not.

Anne

Dennis · Post by **Dennis** » Wed Jun 21, 2006 1:03 am

Hi:)

Are there any Latin -> English translators online?

dennis

Post by **paddyscar** » Wed Jun 21, 2006 2:31 am

In the dark ages, I took Latin at school [and can, as Sister Evelyn Marie said we would, still decline a noun] and may be able to help. If you want to post what you have, I'll have a go ...

Frances

Post by **AnneM** » Wed Jun 21, 2006 9:36 pm

Hi

If all else fails I'll have a shot as well and ask husband to help as his Latin is better than mine. In our defence we're both lawyers!

Why don't you post what you have and I'm sure a few bods will have a go.

Anne

Davie · Post by **Davie** » Thu Jun 22, 2006 12:27 am

Hi All
As AnneM points out
"Type in phrase"
And normally the translation comes up
This usually works for Gaelic as well
Davie

Post by **AndrewP** » Thu Jun 22, 2006 11:39 am

Latin inscription photograph from Anne (apanderson):

http://talkingscot.com/gallery/displayi ... p?pos=-624

All the best,

AndrewP

PaulaD · Post by **PaulaD** » Thu Jun 22, 2006 2:07 pm

Hi Anne,
Hope someone else has got better eyesight than me

Can only read some of the letters. Any chance you could do a "brass rubbing" to make the letters clearer

Regards
Paula

Post by **paddyscar** » Thu Jun 22, 2006 7:22 pm

Hi Anne:

Bless the kind soul who has put this marker back together. Perhaps it is legible onsite, but the uneven surface, the age of the inscription and reflection of light, makes it very difficult to get more than a couple of letters at a time.

The suggested rubbing might identify the individual letters, but may not do much to clarify the actual words, but don't give up yet!

Have you checked with the local historical/genalogical society to see if there have been any headstone transcriptions done for that graveyard? Although the group would not have translated the headstone, they would have copied it letter-for-letter as best they could.

Frances

Russell · Post by **Russell** » Thu Jun 22, 2006 7:47 pm

Hi Anne

Best I could make out is

CAUSA DOMUS CL
AROPRAECI ARA IN
SIGNIA FE.... NOBI
LIOEATISPIRIT..
UMA FAMIAT
LEGIS AMORE ATR.
A FOVE DECAS A

The rest is beyond me regardless of how I shift the RGB bias in Irfanview.
Maybe someone can pick out the correct inscription now.

Russell

apanderson · Post by **apanderson** » Thu Jun 22, 2006 10:05 pm

Well, the inscription story is a bit complicated!

This Churchyard has already been transcribed and is part of the East Stirlingshire pre-1855 Book. (Transcribed back in the late sixties/early seventies) Obviously they didn't have the luxury of digital cameras to keep records then but I'm beginning to think they missed this stone altogether.

The only stone I can't locate is listed as being erected to a Jane Carrick, servant to the Dundas family who died in 1854. OK - so far so good but . . . there are other wall plaques from around the same dates and they're almost in perfect condition. The enclose contains another 'slab' which dates from 1680 and it too, is perfectly legible.

Unfortunately the top of this mystery stone is both too high to reach and obsured by ivy growing up the walls and hanging over the top of it. Everything points to it being much earlier that 1854 and I have my doubts that a servant would have such a grand memorial, considering it's only about a half of it which is visible.

It's probably a good job that it's quite high up, as for the first time ever, I've been tempted to rip off ivy just to see what's underneath!

Anne