Dec 2015
Why is this a poem?
Because it's magic.
Greetings,
On the third day before the Ides of September, sister,
for the day of the celebration of my birthday,
I send you a warm invitation to make sure you come to us,
to make the day more enjoyable by your presence.
Give my regards to your [husband] Cerialis.
My [husband] Aelius and my young son send their greetings.
I shall expect you, sister.
Farewell, sister, my dearest soul, as I hope to prosper.
Because it's magic.
Greetings,
On the third day before the Ides of September, sister,
for the day of the celebration of my birthday,
I send you a warm invitation to make sure you come to us,
to make the day more enjoyable by your presence.
Give my regards to your [husband] Cerialis.
My [husband] Aelius and my young son send their greetings.
I shall expect you, sister.
Farewell, sister, my dearest soul, as I hope to prosper.
This was written in the first century AD, in Latin, by the wife of the commander of the Roman fort of Vindolanda in present day Northern England, near Hadrian's Wall.
It was written on a thin piece of wood, postcard-size, and disposed of in a bonfire when the fort was evacuated. In the anaerobic conditions it survived and was excavated nearly 2000 years later.
This small soggy piece of wood was voted Britain's top treasure by experts at the British museum and by a public poll.
It was written on a thin piece of wood, postcard-size, and disposed of in a bonfire when the fort was evacuated. In the anaerobic conditions it survived and was excavated nearly 2000 years later.
This small soggy piece of wood was voted Britain's top treasure by experts at the British museum and by a public poll.
