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Translation Assistance => Other language pairs => Ancient Greek→English translation forum => Topic started by: Rosebud on 10 Jul, 2009, 11:59:32

Title: Chapel inscription help!
Post by: Rosebud on 10 Jul, 2009, 11:59:32

I have an inscription which I think is in ancient Greek. It is from my local chapel school from 1851, and is only 4 words, but nobody knows what it means [bit of a local legend!]. I am going to write it out and post it here. What's the best way to do this? I was going to write it out in MS Paint and attach the file here.

Title: Re: Chapel inscription help!
Post by: vbd. on 10 Jul, 2009, 13:57:54

It would be much better if you could upload a photo of it.

Title: Re: Chapel inscription help!
Post by: Rosebud on 10 Jul, 2009, 13:59:04

I will try and do that later - it's not a close-up but should be read-able. Thanks.

Title: Re: Chapel inscription help!
Post by: Rosebud on 11 Jul, 2009, 12:15:23

(https://www.translatum.gr/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffile%3A%2F%2F%2FC%3A%2FUsers%2FIan%2FPictures%2FPhoto-0013.jpg&hash=6be11ec9621e14ce2a542423a2b9c7525ad30264)

Title: Re: Chapel inscription help!
Post by: Rosebud on 11 Jul, 2009, 12:16:19

I have tried to upload it - not worked. How do I upload the picture on here?

Title: Re: Chapel inscription help!
Post by: vmelas on 11 Jul, 2009, 13:24:10

Upload your picture in an online storage silo like imageshack and then copy its location and paste it in your message using the "img" "/img" (with [] around each) code (which can be automatically inserted using the second button that looks like a picture in the message toolbar. Looking forward to the picture!:)

Title: Re: Chapel inscription help!
Post by: Rosebud on 11 Jul, 2009, 13:54:53

OK, thanks for the heads-up. Hope this works!

(https://www.translatum.gr/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg3.imageshack.us%2Fimg3%2F558%2Fphoto0013i.jpg&hash=467ded6915fb9e187be78d9063e530811c702c91)

Title: Re: Chapel inscription help!
Post by: vmelas on 11 Jul, 2009, 14:03:47

Are you sure it's not Latin? It seems Latin to me.

Title: Re: Chapel inscription help!
Post by: Rosebud on 11 Jul, 2009, 14:21:21

Quote from: Valentini on 11 Jul, 2009, 14:03:47

Are you sure it's not Latin? It seems Latin to me.

I don't know, Valentini. It's certainly not Greek then? At least I have something to work with - is there a Latin translator forum?

Title: Re: Chapel inscription help!
Post by: vmelas on 11 Jul, 2009, 16:57:36

Well it does not look Greek to me. But then again it does not make sense in Latin either if I try to apply it. Let's wait for more people :)

Title: Re: Chapel inscription help!
Post by: billberg23 on 11 Jul, 2009, 17:21:08

The inscription was installed under the ministry of the Unitarian Rev. William Probert, antiquarian, orientalist, and Welsh scholar.  If it's not Welsh, then it's undoubtedly written in some West Semitic alphabet.  Aramaic?  Cf. http://nq.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/pdf_extract/193/21/453
You will probably find the whole story (including that of the inscription) in Transactions of the Unitarian Historical Society: Fred Kenworthy, 'The story of Walmsley Chapel [Lancashire] 2' TUHS 9:2 (1948) 57-77, which, while not available on the Web, is likely to be found at one of your local libraries.

Title: Re: Chapel inscription help!
Post by: Rosebud on 13 Jul, 2009, 17:25:10

Many thanks for the replies. It seems it's not Greek after all, but probably Bardic! Which means I need to contact a Bardic speaker :)

I will check out the Kenworthy paper too Valentini, many thanks.

Title: Re: Chapel inscription help!
Post by: billberg23 on 13 Jul, 2009, 19:07:48

Ah, I see.  "Bardic" = Welsh written in the "Bardic" alphabet.  Does this book provide any help?
http://openlibrary.org/b/OL20516760M/Monumental-inscriptions-of-Walmsley-Unitarian-Chapel%2C-Bolton.