alb8372093

Italy: A 'Rotas Square' or 'Sator Square', Church of St Peter ad Oratorium, Abbay, Capestrano, Abruzzo, c. 2nd-4th century CE. Photo by Luiclemens (GNU Free Documentation License)

The Rotas Square (or Sator Square) is a word square containing a Latin palindrome. By repositioning the letters around the central letter , a Greek cross can be made that reads Pater Noster (Latin for 'Our Father', the first two words of the Lord's Prayer) both vertically and horizontally. The remaining letters two each of A and O can be taken to represent the concept of Alpha and Omega, a reference in Christianity to the omnipresence of God.<br/><br/>. The square was likely used as a covert symbol for early Christians to express their presence to each other.

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Title:

Italy: A 'Rotas Square' or 'Sator Square', Church of St Peter ad Oratorium, Abbay, Capestrano, Abruzzo, c. 2nd-4th century CE. Photo by Luiclemens (GNU Free Documentation License)

Caption:

The Rotas Square (or Sator Square) is a word square containing a Latin palindrome. By repositioning the letters around the central letter , a Greek cross can be made that reads Pater Noster (Latin for 'Our Father', the first two words of the Lord's Prayer) both vertically and horizontally. The remaining letters two each of A and O can be taken to represent the concept of Alpha and Omega, a reference in Christianity to the omnipresence of God.

. The square was likely used as a covert symbol for early Christians to express their presence to each other.

Credit:

Album / Universal Images Group / Pictures From History

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Image size:

5000 x 3734 px | 53.4 MB

Print size:

42.3 x 31.6 cm | 16.7 x 12.4 in (300 dpi)

Keywords:

2ND CENTURY A. D. • 2ND CENTURY AD • 2ND CENTURY • 4TH CENTURY A. C. • 4TH CENTURY A. D • 4TH CENTURY A. D. • 4TH CENTURY AC • 4TH CENTURY AD • 4TH CENTURY • ABBAY • ABBEY • ABRUZZO • AD ORATORIUM • CAPESTRANO • CHRIST • CHRISTIAN • CHRISTIANISM • CHRISTIANITY • CHRISTIANS • CHURCH • CHURCHES • CRISTIANDAD • CRISTIANISMO • ECCLESIA • FOURTH CENTURY A. D. • FOURTH CENTURY • ITALIA • ITALIAN • ITALY • JESUS CHRIST • JESUS • LUICLEMENS • PASSION OF CHRIST • PASSION • PHOTOGRAPH • RELIGION • RELIGION: CHRISTIAN • ROTAS SQUARE • ROTAS • SAINT PETER • SATOR SQUARE • SATOR • SECOND CENTURY A. D. • ST PETER