Acrostic

Romano-British acrostic or word-square. A section of painted wall-plaster with an inscription scratched into the plaster, dating from the second century AD. Found during excavations at Victoria Road, Cirencester, in 1868. The acrostic is one of only six in the world. One other example is known from this country, found during an excavation in Manchester in 1968.  Two others were found at Pompeii and two at Duro-Europos. The inscription consists of five words which read the same both across, down and back to front. The acrostic is held by many to be a secret Christian sign used as a talisman and composed sometime before 79 AD. The literal translation has been the subject of much debate.