Duenos inscription facts for kids
The Duenos inscription is a very old Latin text written on a piece of pottery. This pottery was found in Rome and dates back to the 6th century BC. This makes it one of the oldest known Latin texts! It's quite hard to read because the words are not separated by spaces.
What Does It Say?
Since this special pottery, called a kernos, was found in 1880, many people have tried to figure out what the inscription means. It's like a puzzle! By 1983, more than 50 different ideas for its meaning had been suggested.
It's tough to translate for a few reasons:
- There aren't many other very old Latin texts to compare it to.
- The ancient Romans often shortened words in their writings.
- There are no spaces between the words, making it hard to tell where one word ends and another begins.
Even with these challenges, experts like Arthur E. Gordon have helped us understand the letters better.
Here is the original text, followed by one possible way to understand it:
Line 1:
- IOVESATDEIVOSQOIMEDMITATNEITEDENDOCOSMISVIRCOSIED
- The person who sends me prays to the gods, so that the girl is kind to you.
Line 2:
- ASTEDNOISIOPETOITESIAIPAKARIVOIS
- ...without you... calm with these rivers. (This part is still very unclear!)
Line 3:
- DVENOSMEDFECEDENMANOMEINOMDVENOINEMEDMALOSTATOD
- A good man made me for a good man, so that an evil man does not take me.
One idea for the complete meaning, put forward by scholars Warmington and Eichner, is:
- It is sworn with the gods, from whom I am sent: If a maiden does not smile at you,
- nor is strongly attracted to you, then soothe her with this fragrance!
- Someone good has filled me for someone good and well-mannered, and I shall not be obtained by someone bad.
This shows that even today, understanding ancient texts can be a fun and challenging mystery!
Images for kids
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The pottery with the inscription
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An old drawing of the inscription from 1881
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The Duenos Inscription on a kernos vase
See also
In Spanish: Inscripción Duenos para niños
