Finding the square in this place and time raises serious doubts on whether Christians first created the square. However, the discovery of what is now the earliest known inscription of the Sator square, on walls in the ruins of Pompeii, dates it to as far back as 79AD. The square also held what were believed to have been hidden Christian symbols. The Sator square was first thought to be of Christian origin because initial examples of the grid dated to around the 3rd to 5th centuries AD. Many scholars continue to question the origin and meaning of this squared, circular phrase. (The Gardener Arepo holds and works the wheels/plough) Assuming AREPO to be a possible proper name, though, the most common reading of the square is ‘the farmer/gardener (SATOR) AREPO holds (TENET) and works (OPERA) wheels (ROTAS). Most of the variations, problems, or contradictions with translation seem to arise from the only word of the five which is not a known Latin word AREPO. This powerful arrangement is believed to hold magical qualities and is seen used on amulets, talismans, or charms to ward away evil.ĭifferent translations have been suggested for the twenty-five letters. Found within a square, this phrase is then able to be read from left or right, upward or downward, by following either rows or columns. A palindrome is a word/sentence which can be read both forward or backward. The five, five letter words, positioned inside a 5×5 grid, form a most impressive palindrome of SATOR AREPO TENET OPERA ROTAS. The most recognized word square, known as the Sator Square, contains a mysterious collection of letters.