Latin translation

June 4, 2008 3:52 PM

A small piece of latin translation/identification required, if someone would be so kind.

This scroll from a 14th century drawing apparently contains the text spoken by the centurion present at the crucifixion of Christ - "Truly this man was a son of god," or something similar.

Could someone who knows latin..

- Identify from the gothic writing exactly what is said in the drawing, in latin (Vere..?)
- Give an idea of what it translates to in English
- The degree to which it differs from the English phrase "Truly this man was a son of god," if at all.

Many thanks.

posted by fire&wings to writing & language (2 comments total)

"Vere filius dei erat iste" is the transcription: "Truly that [man] was the son of God." The "that" is from "iste," which isn't really quite exactly like "that" in English, but roughly so. Translating it "that man" is reasonable since it has a masculine ending. And "the son" vs. "a son" isn't handled by the Latin since there aren't really articles per se, but "the son" is obviously the intent since the Bible doesn't mention any other sons of God.
posted by letourneau at 3:59 PM on June 4

It's from the Latin Vulgate, Matthew 27: 54: 'centurio autem et qui cum eo erant custodientes Iesum viso terraemotu et his quae fiebant timuerunt valde dicentes vere Dei Filius erat iste'. 'Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.'
posted by verstegan at 4:46 PM on June 4