Thursday, March 29, 2007
[Note: See update at end. First stone is solved. The second one is now the problem solved.]
And now for something somewhat different...I am helping someone with a cemetery restoration job. These two old marble monuments were damaged and must be replaced. The trouble with old marble is that it becomes almost illegible with time.
That's where you or someone you know comes in. Here's the challenge: Take a look at these photos and try to tell me what the Hebrew says - particularly the broken line on the first one (top picture), and the entire text, Hebrew and English on the second one (the bottom three pictures).
Email me your effort at solomon at solomonia dot com.
Clarification: What I need is the Hebrew itself so the stones can be re-made, not a translation.
Update: Thanks to Ari, the first stone is deciphered. The second is now the problem, and a tough one it is since it doesn't get any better even when you are looking at the actual article.
Update2: Thank you to all who emailed. I've got several impressive attempts at the Hebrew and English. Actually, I'm rather blown away that someone seems to have gotten the English. Amazing.
My eyes are blurring trying to read those -- are they publically viewable around here somewhere? The broken line on the top one is the age at death (and maybe a word or two before that). I can hardly make out anything on the second.
I've always loved those real old-style tombstones they have around Boston, with the skull and crossbones, but my wife says that under no circumstance will I be allowed to get one.
The actual stones are probably not accessible around here. The top one I can get most of, except the cut line. The bottom one's a real problem.
You may want to try a rubbing or foil cast of the inscriptions to get a clearer image.
It's a good suggestion, the trouble with rubbing a stone like this is that the marble is so deteriorated that even a rubbing doesn't come out at all. The best bet is putting the picture in Photoshop (or similar) and messing with the contrast settings and such. Have a working knowledge of the language is a big help since you can understand what it's supposed to say. Even most of the English on this thing is probably gone forever.
The other useful technique is shadow, that is, manipulating light sources to deepen shadows can make carved inscriptions legible.