Duenos Inscription - Text and Translations

Text and Translations

There have been many proposed translations advanced by scholars since the discovery of the kernos; Arthur E. Gordon in 1983 estimated their number as "over fifty, no two in full agreement". Due to the lack of a large body of archaic Latin, and the method by which Romans abbreviated their inscriptions, scholars have not been able to produce a singular translation that has been accepted by historians as accurate. However thanks to Gordon's work the reading of the text can be now considered certain.

Below is the transcription and one of many possible interpretations:

a. the direct transcription

b. direct transcription with possible macrons and word breaks

c. a speculative interpretation and translation into Classical Latin

d. an English translation of that transcription, interpretation and translation.

Line 1:

a. IOVESATDEIVOSQOIMEDMITATNEITEDENDOCOSMISVIRCOSIED

b. iouesāt deivos qoi mēd mitāt, nei tēd endō cosmis vircō siēd

c. Iurat deos qui me mittit, ni in te (= erga te) comis virgo sit

d. The person who sends me prays to the gods, lest the girl be not kind towards thee

Line 2:

a. ASTEDNOISIOPETOITESIAIPACARIVOIS

b. as(t) tēd noisi o(p)petoit esiāi pācā riuois

c. at te (...) paca rivis

d. without thee (...) calm with rivers

Line 3:

a. DVENOSMEDFECEDENMANOMEINOMDVENOINEMEDMALOSTATOD

b. duenos mēd fēced en mānōm einom duenōi nē mēd malo(s) statōd

c. Bonus me fecit in manum einom bono, ne me malus (tollito, clepito)

d. A good man made me in his own?? hands for a good man, in case an evil man take me.