A hidden date
The above snippet is from the baptismal register of Albligen (canton Bern, Switzerland) - I am still posting it here where likely more community members will see it.
The text includes a hidden date plus information what happened on this date. It has taken a combined effort to solve the mystery - and now I thought some of you might want to give it a try yourself 😉.
Kommentare
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To make life easier - here's a transcription:
PerpetVa FaeLICItas orDInaVIt / nos sVos abIre VVInaVI IaM.
What does the fact tell us, that the marked caps are all representing Roman numerals?
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View the complete record page on http://www.query.sta.be.ch/Dateien/18/D94058.pdf#page=25 to see the entry in the context. The year of the entry should help to solve the mystery of the Roman numerals.
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I have to start with a correction of my transcription (sorry!) - should read "PerpetVa FaeLICItas orDInaVIt / nos sVos abIre VVInaVV IaM." Let's no check the capital letters (Roman numerals) in the text:
M = 1000
D = 500
C = 100
L = 50
7x V = 7 x 5 = 35
7x I = 7 x 1 = 7
If we add up all these numbers we get 1692.
We also have "VVInaVV" - meaning "WinaW", modern spelling Wynau, another parish in canton Bern - see the following record in Wynau: https://www.query.sta.be.ch/Dateien/19/D97406.pdf#page=136 (bottom right side).
We are almost finished now 😉.
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The above mentioned record in Wynau (https://www.query.sta.be.ch/Dateien/19/D97406.pdf#page=136, bottom right side) tells us that "Perpetua Fælicitas" has nothing to do with everlasting happiness, but means March 7 (1692): Perpetua and Felicitas were two martyrs, died on March 07, 203 in Carthage - so this became their name day (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perpetua_and_Felicity#Veneration).
Abraham Leeman was first priest in Gsteig bei Saanen, in 1678 he took on the position in Albligen - and in 1692 he was finally moved to Wynau, where he died in 1704.
Abraham Leeman has borne this move with humour: he obviously had fun when he wrote the note in Albligen - I hope you enjoyed it as well 😉.
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Abraham Leeman created this chronogram without the help of http://www.begeistert.info/chronogramm/chronogramm.php ... but if you want to try it, have fun!
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This is fascinating! Thanks for sharing!
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