The Stock Bridge has taken a classical turn.
Its northern parapet currently boasts the fading outline of the Venus de Milo on a cloud and a number of muddled and self-deprecating scrawls apparently asking for help.
We attempt to translate as follows, using photos filtered in order to assist deciphering.
HIC HOMO IEUSUS CLAMAT
This man Jesus proclaims
NOVEM LABOREM
The new work
NOVIS LABORI
New work
NOVE LABOR
New work
NOVI LABORIBUS
New works
MAGNUM OPUS (n)
Great work (noun)
OPUS (n) MAGNUM
Great work (noun)
OPEREM
Let us work!
PL
Plural
OPES
Riches
OPEROS
? You work [operas]
OPERORES M
Workers (masculine)
OPERIIS
Of work
OPERIBUS
O works!
LATINE LOQUERIS NE?
Don't you speak Latin?
CUIS LABOR STAT
I, whose work this is,
DISCULPUS HUNC SCRIPTUA
am sorry for this writing,
CORRIGENDUM NEC SCIT
not knowing how to correct
ITALIOS MOTTOS
Italian mottos
Spurtle suspects this is all the work of an aspiring pupil aiming to improve, or of a declining Latin teacher gurgling on his/her way home from the pub. If you know better, please tell us at: spurtle@hotmail.co.uk
Photo top-right: Shawn Lipowski, Creative Commons.
-----
UPDATE: THE LINES, THE WITCH AND THE WEIRD DAUB
We received the following email on 13 November.
Hello Spurtle,
I came across your article about the strange markings on Stock Bridge after someone posted it on Bluesky, and thought I would send my two thoughts.
For context, I am an expert in occultism, based currently in New York City. I am the author of two books on the subject of witchcraft and occultism, and have written about and been interviewed on the subject by numerous outlets.
I agree that there is probably not much to these markings, but two things stand out to me. First, I believe the figure drawn is not Venus but Hermes. He seems to have an arm raised, no breasts, a piece of fabric covering his lower parts, and is standing on a cloud, all much more in keeping with the iconography of Hermes.
Additionally, the writing about 'the great work' is a reference to a concept in magic that appears in the practices of Hermeticism as well as Thelema. Essentially, it is similar to enlightenment in Buddhism. Through ritual, over years, a magician attempts to contact their highest self and come into union with it here on earth. From there, one can perform feats of magic. Some Gnostics relate this back to the figure of Jesus, and claim he was actually a magician who performed this Great Work. I'm simplifying a lot, but that's the general idea.
I think you might have a drunk occultist on your hands! Nothing to be worried about, but something interesting to consider. Hope this was helpful!
Sarah Lyons
[Image above: Maria-Lan Nguyen, Wikimedia Commons.]
-----
