ancient-rome-au:Sator Square, the original Roman memeThis 5x5 grid of letters can be read top-to-bot
ancient-rome-au:Sator Square, the original Roman memeThis 5x5 grid of letters can be read top-to-bottom in rows or left-to-right in columns, resulting in the same words in either direction. But what does it mean? Each word (except one) can be translated and a sentence can be constructed, but the result is still confusing. No one’s entirely sure of the full context, since no explanation in written records survives. Which is strange, since this meme popped up on Roman buildings across the whole empire.SATOR (noun, nominative singular, from serere=to sow): sower or planter; alternately, founder or progenitorAREPO: ????? no one really knows but most scholars assume it is a proper name invented to make the whole thing workTENET (verb, present active, third-person singular, from tenere=to hold): holds, keeps, comprehends, possesses, masters, or preservesOPERA (noun, nominative or accusative plural, from singular opus): works, aid, service, efforts, deedsROTAS (noun, accusative plural, from singular rota): wheelsThere are many possible translations. I have limited formal education in Latin, so take this with a grain of salt, but my best guess is something like: “The task of Arepo the farmer is to hold the wheels.” -- source link