2

I found this inscription on a Croatian island (island of Cres), on a tombstone.

There were other inscriptions with this alphabet in that very cemetery.

I never saw this alphabet before though. What is it?

enter image description here

Improve this question
  • 5
    At quick glance it looks like Glagolitsa. – seven-phases-max Sep 8 '19 at 10:34
  • @seven-phases-max From the article: "That claim, however, has been resolutely[clarification needed] disproven." Ahh, Wikipedia. :) – Spencer Sep 8 '19 at 11:12
  • @Spencer Sorry, I don't quite follow what you mean. What claim exactly? – seven-phases-max Sep 8 '19 at 11:32
  • @seven-phases-max The claim that St Jerome invented the Glagolitic script. See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glagolitic_script#Hieronymian_version – kimchi lover Sep 8 '19 at 11:58
  • 4
    @Spencer: I'm not surprised at all. When you don't include things like that, a pseudo-scientific or nationalist hothead invariably edits the page to add and elaborate on the thoroughly debunked theory. So might as well add the misconception and explain why it's wrong. – Denis de Bernardy Sep 8 '19 at 12:46
8

The Croatian Glagolitic script:.

enter image description here

Which has some variants over time, like this one:

enter image description here

The text probably reads: BLIZ BJDI GSP??I which means bliže budi (GSP??I) be closer to (‘the lord is hinted to in the comments but the last couple of letters before the I can not be decyphered because they are outside of the frame of the picture)

I initially translated GSP??I to hospita (lady) but ‘lord’ may well be intended.

Improve this answer
  • Ok I added some more info. Just the Glagolitic letters are quite remarkable. Not all letters can be seen completely on the picture. The grave has a house shape so gospodi made me think of hospita. But en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gospić Maybe this city is meant? – Ajagar Sep 8 '19 at 22:21
  • 5
    "Bliže budi gospođi" Means 'will be closer to the Lord'. – Yellow Sky Sep 9 '19 at 8:02
  • 1
    @YellowSky: you beat me by a few minutes... Господь – tum_ Sep 9 '19 at 8:19
  • 1
    Lady? Where did you get that? I'm not an expert in medieval Croatian, but "Blize budi gospodi" is pretty much understandable for most (all?) Slavic speakers and means "Be close(r), Lord" (no ladies, no wills, no tos). This is an appeal to the God (as in prayer, and I won't wonder if it's actually a quote from some common prayer). – seven-phases-max Sep 9 '19 at 9:31
  • he was a priest so his wife is out of question btw. – Dakatine Sep 9 '19 at 12:07

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.