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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
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How Jim Takes Inspiration From Batman
How Did ‘Mona Lisa’ Become Famous?
Client Story
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When Duty Calls
Grilled Halibut With Roasted Red Pepper Sauce
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Can You Solve This 18th-Century Cipher?
DISCOVER THE THEORIES BEHIND SHEPHERD’S MONUMENT
A mysterious 18th-century code has made even the most renowned geniuses lose sleep and continues to puzzle the world. On the grounds of Shugborough Hall in Staffordshire, England, lies the baffling code that refuses to be cracked. The Shepherd’s Monument was commissioned by British Parliament member Thomas Anson and sculpted by Peter Schee around the mid to late 1700s. But what makes this monument so mysterious? On the monument is an engraving of Nicolas Poussin’s painting “The Shepherds of Arcadia” and the inscription “ OUOSVAVV ” framed by the letters “ DM ,” which are placed slightly lower than the main eight letters. While the inscription has a long history of confusing the public (including Charles Dickens and Charles Darwin), the monument’s mystery was reignited after its appearance in the bestselling novel “The Da Vinci Code” by Dan Brown. Now, countless
theories have been made, but no confirmed meaning exists. So, what are the conspiracy theories out there behind this vague inscription?
discovery may make the most sense. Linguistic expert Keith Massey utilized his expansive knowledge of Latin to develop the phrase “ Oro Ut Omnes Sequantur Viam Ad Veram Vitam, ” which translates to “I pray that all may follow the Way to True Life.” This phrase was common on ancient Christian tombs. The primary hint was the mysterious “DM,” which Massey determined was “ Dis Manibus ” or “for the Manes,” another phrase seen on ancient Christian tombs. Massey explained, “My solution provides a straightforward and grammatical sentence, all parts of which are attested in tomb inscriptions and texts predating or contemporary with the creation of the Shugborough inscription.” Do you agree? Is this finally the true meaning behind this riddle, or is there still more to be uncovered?
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Masonic symbols lead to the hidden location of the Holy Grail with the outside letters “DM,” meaning “Devout Mason.” A tribute to Anson’s late wife with the letters standing for “Optimae Uxoris Optimae Sororis Viduus Amantissimus Vovit Virtutibus ,” meaning, “Best of wives, best of sisters, a most devoted widower dedicates [this] to your virtues.” The monument is a dead end with jumbled letters to taunt those who look too deeply into inscriptions.
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While these theories have been the predominantly believed meanings for centuries, one recent
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