American professor believes he has key to unlock mysterious 'Shugborough Code'
An American scientist believes he may have cracked the mysterious 'Shugborough Code'.
Latin professor Keith Massey, from Wisconsin, said he has deciphered the enigmatic lettering engraved in the Shepherd's Monument at the National Trust-owned Shugborough Hall in Staffordshire.
The lettering reads OUOSVAVV, surrounded by the letters D and M, and has stumped amateur mystery fans for decades. Mr Massey, who teaches Latin as a spoken language, said he believes it stands for 'Oro Ut Omnes Sequantur Viam Ad Veram Vitum', which would translate as 'I pray that all may follow the way to true life'.
The monument was built sometime between 1748 and 1763 by Flemish sculptor Peter Scheemakers. Charles Darwin and Charles Dickens are all said to have attempted to solve the enigma and failed.
One of the more outlandish theories is that the letters are a clue to the location of the Holy Grail.
Some have suggested it might just be 'vandalism' left behind by previous occupants of the house
Professor Massey claims he is a former NSA agent and proposed the translation in a YouTube video which has almost 250 views.
The professor said he worked as an Arabic linguist at the National Security Agency in the US after 9/11 but said it is his experience as a public school teacher, teaching Latin, that helped him solve the riddle.
Professor Massey said the letters D and M stand for Dis Manibus, commonly found inscribed on tombstones, which references the spirits of the underworld.
He said: "This is a clue to the correct interpretation of the longer series of letters.
"The inscription was intended to be understood as a tomb memorial composed in Latin."
Professor Massey believes the inscription references a passage in the Bible, John 14:6, which reads "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life".
However, the staff at the property think Professor Massey might be reaching.
Operations Manager Steve Dodd said: "We get all sorts of people trying to crack the code because it is such an enigma.
"We have not heard from Professor Massey about his findings but I think the fact of the matter is we will never know for sure.
"Although I don't think that will stop people guessing."
