Shugborough inscription, Inscription in Great Haywood, England
The Shugborough inscription is a sequence of letters carved on a marble panel in Great Haywood, England. The panel shows a relief of four figures around a tomb, with the letters O U O S V A V V above D M on a lower line.
The monument was commissioned by Thomas Anson and built in the 18th century. The relief is a copy of a painting by Nicolas Poussin, and the inscription was carved below it at the same time.
The letters have never been explained, and people still come to try to solve them. Some see a code, others a Latin phrase, and the mystery has made the monument a talking point among visitors.
The inscription is on the Shepherd's Monument in the grounds of Shugborough Hall. Visitors can walk up to the monument and examine the carving up close, but the letters are small and the light can be uneven, so take your time.
The letters D M are a common Roman tomb dedication, which suggests the panel was meant as a memorial. Yet the eight letters above have resisted every attempt at decoding, including efforts by famous names.
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