Categories
Early Christianity History

Paternoster Puzzle

This little word puzzle has been found in various Roman ruins, including in Pompeii:

R O T A S
O P E R A
T E N E T
A R E P O
S A T O R

Rearrange the words, and you get this “Paternoster” (“Our Father”) cross form with “A” — alpha and “O” — omega at each tip:

A
P
A
T
E
R
A P A T E R N O S T E R O
O
S
T
E
R
O

Apparently no one is sure of its purpose.  The early Christian use of symbols like this is fascinating to me.  I wish evangelicals weren’t so stingy with symbolism.  I guess one similar thing we sometimes use is the Christian fish on our cars.