Any Historians/Latin Speakers ? (1 Viewer)

[Kingham]

Trying to work out if the letters ‘IM’ and ‘CD’ on an old stone sundial are meaningful, or possibly someone’s initials.

I’m told the stone is quite old and has been in the family several generations, even if it doesn’t date back to 1772. The faded numerals were recut by a stonemason several years ago and the dial may have originated in Czechoslovakia.

 

[Jaws]

Well IM is 999, and CD is 400
Do not think that is any help though !

 

[Antony1969]

Think its a Brexit clock ... Its from the very moment when we first voted to leave ... Certainly feels like it !!!

 

[Feltwell]

It's a wristwatch for some of the elder members of this forum.

Not helping much are we?

 

[Kingham]

......

Not helping much are we?

No, but that’s part of the ‘Fun’

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[Hollyberry]

IM means in or into.
I found a definition of CD which translated to Caesars decree.
No idea what significance that would have.

Edit: found a second definition of CD —- Cains Decius, refers to a Roman emperor who was the first to order mass executions of Christians. He sounds a charming gentleman.

 

[Gellyneck]

Stop being silly, Ken!
Did yi no see the wee tiny other letters in the middle, IN
So, you get IM IN CD.
Which translates to I'm in Castle Douglas!
There you go!

 

[pappajohn]

I don't think it is CD.... I think its CL.

Some letters have worn away over time but it did say

TIME CLOCK

 

[TheBig1]

it started life as a memorial to @old-mo s joke book

 

[MyrtleGuru]

If in Latin, it could be a religious thing.

CD could stand for Christus Dominus (= Christ the Lord)

IM could stand for Immortalis (= immortal)

Although you'd probably expect them to be the other way round?

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[Baileysbus]

Amo Amas Amat.......... just saying

 

[MyrtleGuru]

Amo Amas Amat.......... just saying

I am suddenly reminded of John Cleese as a Roman correcting the graffiti writer's Latin in The Life of Brian

 

[DBK]

Could be initials but "IM" is German for "in the" and German is what they might have spoken in 1772 where you think it might have come from. The letters on the right look odd as I think for symmetry there should be another letter on the right otherwise the writing isn't centralised.