Meaning of MY in Shakespeare's Epitaph: Mariae Hyios

1. My study on Shakespeare's Epitaph has largely dealt with the 4 Y-words, each consisting of 2 letters. I related the 4*2 letters to the word PENSATOR, and the 4 Y-words to the Greek Annunciation titles for Jesus (H)Yios (H)Ypsistou, (H)Yios T(h)eou – Son of the Highest, Son of God.

2. There is a curiosity of spelling and pronunciation in the first two letters of these four words: The aspirate H is pronounced, but not represented as a single letter. It is marked by a semi-circle ⁽ before the following sound with the open part looking to the right, e.g. ⁽Yios.

On the other hand TH is the Latin transcription for the Greek letter THETA (J,Q), just like in English the two letters th for the single sound [θ].

If the Greek spelling of the first three words and the transcribed fourth word are combined, the letter H is in no case the initial, as demonstrated above.

3. Shakespeare made use of an English printing convention to replace TH by Y and put the E above the Y. Similarly Y plus superscript T meant THAT.

The four Greek words contain HYIOS twice. So if Shakespeare repeats YT, it's plausible to suggest that the second letter T stands for THEOU. YE, furthermore, stands for the first three letters of THEOU. So the first three Y-words of the epitaph have to be read like this:

YE	YT	YT
THEOU	HYIOS THEOU	HYIOS THEOU

In this way the letter Y connects HYIOS with THEOS: Jesus is Son and God in one.

The double meaning of Y allows the H so far neglected to be integrated. The values with Y counted (ct) 23 and 22 are:

	23 ct		sm	22 ct		sm
	NV	FV		NV	FV
HY	31	29	60	30	19	49
TH	27	25	52	27	25	52
	58	54	112	57	44	101
60:52=4*(15:13)

The result 112 is the numeric value (NV) of CHRISTUS, 101 refers to the second divine person as co-creator.

4. Under this assumption, i.e. amidst such theological terms, Shakespeare must have connected some special meaning with the fourth word MY. It is distinguished from the other three words by being written regularly in one line:

E	T	T
Y	Y	Y	MY

If YE and YT do not have a meaning for themselves, but represent other words, MY, by analogy, can also stand for words similar in meaning to its preceding equals.

In an earlier chapter I pointed out that the first Y-word starts, and the last ends with Y, which suggests the arrangement of the 4 words in a circle. Two arrangements are imaginable:

The first graphic assigns two Y-words to each semi-circle. Admittedly, the Y-words of the first half do not make much sense if their suggested meaning is accepted: THEOU, YIOS THEOU. If we now assume that MY might mean HYIOS MARIAE – Son of Mary, the reading could start from the lower half left: HYIOS MARIAE – HYIOS THEOU.

The second graphic's sense is to connect the two semi-circles: One YT on the right and one Y on the left is omitted. If the reading starts on the right, the meaning of the 2+3 letters is THEOU HYIOS and MARIAE HYIOS in such a way that HYIOS is enclosed by the first and last letter of the genitive case MARIAE.

The meaning of this enclosure is protection: Jesus was protected in Mary's womb before he was born. When Jesus hung on the cross, he said to his mother, referring to his disciple John: "Woman, this is your son", and to the disciple "This is your mother". So all Christians can look upon Mary as their mother, who protects them like her own son Jesus. In the Middle Ages Mary came to be venerated as "Madonna of the Protecting Cloak" (Schutzmantelmadonna):

Madonna of the Protecting Cloak of Ravensburg

5. If MY stands for the MARIAE HYIOS, then the English form MARY with the Y at the end can be understood in the same way. The numeric values of MY and MARY are the inverted numbers 35 and 53, which are half the NV and the NV+FV of IESUS.

II. The letters of MARIA and IESUS in the Epitaph

1. The names MARIA IESUS consist of 5 letters each. Their NV are 40+70= 110. So the average value per letter is 11. The NV have the ratio 10*(4:7).

There are numerous gematric relations between the two names and in themselves which are not dealt with here.

2. If Shakespeare wanted to give significance to the two names within the whole text, he could choose the frequency of the letters contained in them in such a way that he achieved a meaningful result. The two names pose two problems. In both names the last letter occurs twice (AS). Without the final letters the NV are 39 and 52 with the ratio 13*(3:4).

The second problem is that the letter I is contained in both names.

Shakespeare might attempt to combine all three aspects: to refer the frequencies to all 10 letters, to 8 letters and to 7 letters. I confine myself to the second option:

	M	A	R	I	sm	I	E	S	U	sm	tot
frequ.	3	7	7	2	19	2	21	14	4	41	60
NS	36	7	119	18	180	18	105	252	80	455	635
FS	21	7	119	12	159	12	105	112	36	265	524
				30	339					720	1059
159:265 = 53(3:5); 1059 = 3353

The numbers 3 and 5 are most striking. They can mean the ratio of a part of a whole to the whole itself. The values of the initials MI show this: M = 12, I = 9. The whole is 21. So the ratio calculation is 12:(12+9) = 12:21.

There are two models for 3:5. The first refers to the 3 elements of the radius against the 5 elements of the diameter.

The second model refers to the two concentric circles of the hexagram. 3 radial elements of the inner circle stand for 1 area unit, 5 radial elements of the outer circle for 3 area units:

The circular number 353 stands especially for 2*3 radial elements against 5 diametrical elements:

If the NV+FV of the 7 A if the text for the final letter of MARIA are added (339+7+7), the result is again 353.

Jesus took his human nature from the Virgin Mary (ex Maria Virgine), so there exists the most perfect similarity and communion between mother and son. If the NV value of Jesus is 70 and the NV+FV 106, it is a noble idea to assign the halves of both numbers, 35 and 53, to his mother. Besides, as has already been mentioned, the two numbers are the NV of MY and MARY.

3. MARIAE HYIOS, as a hybrid form of Latin and Greek, is a condensation of two cultures destined to constitute the united language basis of Christianity. The values of the double count (of Y) are:

	23 ct		sm	22 ct		sm	tot
	NV	FV		NV	FV
MARIAE	45	37	82	45	37	82
HYIOS	72	52	124	71	42	113
	117	89	206	116	79	195	401

The results refer in various ways to the figure of the octahedron. One example is 206, indicating 20+6 elements of the octahedron. 206 is also the NS of the square frame SATOR (R)OTAS. 401 = 40+1, refers to two crossed double rhombi before fitted to an ocathedron.

4. MY is on text position 27, which is the NV of TH. So the text position allows the additional phrase HYIOS THEOU – God's son. Though Christians understand themselves rather as God's children, also the notion is known that each human creature is God's son or daughter. St. Paul, for example, citing Isaiah 43,6, says in his second Epistle to the Corinthians 6,18: "I will be your father, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Almighty Lord".

Shakespeare will have thought of God Father first, but inasmuch as Jesus is God, he might entrusts himself to Jesus Christ as his son, feeling too humble to call him brother.

III. IESUS MY – TRINITAS

1. If Shakespeare understood MY as MARIAE HYIOS, he could link it with IESUS: Jesus, Mary's son. The NS of IESUS MY is 70+35 = 105. The combination of the two words gives each of the 7 letters the average value 15, whose factors 3*5 (as composite numbers) have been demonstrated to be constitutive of the name IESUS.

The NS of the two words is identical with the NV of TRINITAS – Trinity. The most characteristic numbers for the trinitarian God are 1+3 or 3+1. We can see that the textposition of IESUS is 4 (=1+3) and added to 27 becomes the inverted number 31. And if we add up the FV of 4 and 27, 4+9, we get 13 again.

IESUS MY can be placed around to MY IESUS, which can be understood as an invocation, e.g. in the sense "Have mercy on me".

2. Remarkably, TRINITAS consists of 8 letters like PENSATOR. The division TRI+NITAS = 3:5 allows the NV ratio of 45:60 = 3*5*(3:4). The letters can be arranged along the 8 lines of the double rhombus (DR) frame:

This arrangement of letters makes them stand in concentric opposition (T+S = 1+8 etc.). So the NS of the outer 4 letters of TRINITAS is to the NS of the inner 4 letters 55:50 = 5*(11:10). The ratio 11:10 reflects the 11+10 elements of the DR.

The NS+FS of TRINITAS is 105+89 = 194 (square numbers 1² 3² 2²). The two numbers 105 and 89 appear again as NS+FS of the two outer and inner triangular lines:

	outer l.		sm	inner l.		sm
NS	37	22	59	18	28	46
FS	27	19	46	18	25	43
	64	41	105	36	53	89

105 is the FS of the two inverted numbers 89+98 (89+16).

The NS 105 +FS 89 of TRINITAS is identical with the values of the mathematical model of the SATOR-Square:

x*y	3	4	5	6	7
7	21	28	35	42	49	R	O	T	A	S
6	18	24	30	36	42	O	P	E	R	A
5	15	20	25	30	35	T	E	N	E	T
4	12	16	20	24	28	A	R	E	P	O
3	9	12	15	18	21	S	A	T	O	R

3. Whether Shakespeare associated IESVS MY with TRINITAS, we do not know. At any rate the 7 letters can be placed on the 7 points of the double rhombus:

If the central V is assigned to the left rhombus, the values of both rhombi are (Y=23):

	left			right
	NS	FS	sm	NS	FS	sm
TR	55	45	100	50	44	94
IM	52	28	80	53	38	91
	107	73	180	103	82	185
180:185 = 5*(36:37)
180:174 = 6*(30:29)
155:210 = 5*(31:42)

The total result 365, the days of the year, strongly suggests a cyclic notion. A ratio of the two rhombi values is also possible, if Y is counted 22 with FV 13.

IV. PENSATOR CHRISTUS TRINITAS

a) The names in the Double Rhombus

1. As Shakespeare was buried in Stratford's TRINITY Church, it is not unthinkable that he experimented with the three names PENSATOR CHRISTUS TRINITAS, each consisting of 8 letters. One special feature is that the NS+FS of PENSATOR and TRINITAS is double the NV+FV of CHRISTUS:

	NS	FS
CHRISTUS	112	76	188	4*47
PENSATOR	102	80	182
TRINITAS	105	89	194
	319	245	564	12*47

The number 188 contains the 17 elements of a cross of axes:

The digits of the product 4*47 suggest the frame of a double rhombus with 7 points and 4+4 lines, on which the three words can be placed:

The NS+FS of the two zig-zag lines is equally 282 = 6*47.

2. Each name can unite with a second name in a cross of double rhombi, which can be formed to an octahedron. In this way three octahedra are possible. One octahedron consists of 26 elements. The NS+FS of the outer triangular letters is the prime number 263, pointing to the three octahedra.

b) Cross and Square – Symbols of Christian Trinity

1. The two groups (G1, G2) of letters, each divided up into two pairs, produce the same result of values (282) in an alternating pattern of pairs:

PE	NS	AT	OR
CH	RI	ST	US
TR	IN	IT	AS

G1				G2
	NS	FS			NS	FS
PECHTR	67	58	125	NSRIIN	79	63	142
ATSTIT	85	72	157	ORUSAS	88	52	140
	152	130	282		167	115	282
152+167 = 319 = 1129; 130+115=245 = 55*7

The most suitable geometrical model for this alternating pattern is the SQUARE with its four lines. The Second Divine Person as the absolute image of the First Person is represented by a parallel line which is connected by two rectangular lines representing the Holy Spirit (two words!) as the Third Divine Person. The two groups of letters can be assigned to the 4 lines by proceeding from one line to the next in a circular way. The following figure starts from the bottom line and goes on in a turn from right to left:

Two references to the square model can be found in the values of the bottom results:

	152	130	282		167	115	282
152+167 = 319 = 1129; 130+115=245 = 55*7

First the FV of the NS and FS of the two groups are added separately:

	NS	FV	FS	FV
G1	152	25	130	20
G2	167	167	115	28
		192		48
48:192=48*(1:4)

The digits of 48 refer to each of the 4 square sides: One side consists of 1 line delimited by 2 points, in quadrupled and composite form this appears as 48. The external ratio 1:4 is internally 1:3. Externally it relates to 4 sides and the area as princicple of divine onness and unity, internally to another aspect of the number 4: the 3 divine persons being 1 by absolute equality and community.

The second reference becomes evident by balancing the complete NS+FS against their added sum:

	NS	FS	sm	FV
	319	245	564	54
FV	40	19	59	59
				113

113 refers to 4 axes of a square whose 33 elements are numbered from 1-5 from the centre to the margin:

2. The constructional origin of the square is a cross of axes whose one angle is shifted against the other until the end points congrue:

The figure shows that two shifts of angles are possible, one moved from bottom left to top right, the other from bottom right to top left.

The three names can form pairs to be arranged on three systems of axes. The final aim is to establish squares whose sides provide consistent values of letters. Two problems have to be mastered: First, which of two names is arranged vertically, which horizontally? Second, which of the two shifts is to be applied?

The following solution appears to give satisfactory results:

	vertical	horizontal
1	TRINITAS	CHRISTUS
2	TRINITAS	PENSATOR
3	PENSATOR	CHRISTUS

Cross 1: The horizontal position symbolizes the earth. Jesus Christ reconciles the earth with heaven.

Cross 2: In recognition of his merits Christ will be the judge of the living and the dead: PENSATOR is identical with CHRISTUS.

Cross 3: PENSATOR here represents God's justice before Christ's deed of redemption. The righteous souls up to then excluded from eternal community with God are freed by Christ. At the same time CHRISTUS and PENSATOR as the eternal judge become identical.

Which shift of angles is employed, depends on how two arms of an angle harmonise in their values:

The NS and FS of each of two related arms are divisible by 7 an 33: 84:133 and 66:99.

Here the criterion of two related arms is defined by the FS of the two names TRINITAS and PENSATOR, which is 89 and 80.

Here ratios exist between the NS and FS of each angle: 126:90 for the right and bottom arms, 88:66 for the left and top arms.

3. A synopsis of the three squares shows that all letters of TRINITAS and CHRISTUS are represented twice and on the vertical and horizontal lines, and one half of PENS|ATOR in each line. The NS+FS of one full name plus one half of PENS|ATOR are divisible by 3:

		PENS-	sm	-ATOR	sm
	NS+FS	NS+FS		NS+FS
TRINITAS	194	85	279	97	291
CHRISTUS	188	85	273	97	285

The values of the 3 squares in their specific arrangement of letters offer quite a lot of evaluative possibilities. I confine myself to those represented in the above table:

	TR		CH		sm	NV	sm
NV	279	291	273	285	1128	56
FV	37	100	23	27	187	28
sm					1315	84
NV					268	14	282

The FS 187 = 11*17 has the FV 28, whose product 4*7 affirms the motive of the numbers 4 and 7. The ratio of the two NV 56:28 is 28*(2:1). The number 84 = 3*4*7 is not only a numeric symbol of the square, but also the NV of GENITOR – Creator with an average NV 12 per letter. The number 347 is the NV of PATER, FILIUS, SANCTUS SPIRITUS.

The final result 282 = 6*47 is one quarter of the total NS 1128. In terms of internal/external ratios this would be 282*(1:3)/(1:4).

Written: February/March 2009

HOME

x*y	3	4	5	6	7
7	21	28	35	42	49	R	O	T	A	S
6	18	24	30	36	42	O	P	E	R	A
5	15	20	25	30	35	T	E	N	E	T
4	12	16	20	24	28	A	R	E	P	O
3	9	12	15	18	21	S	A	T	O	R

x*y	3	4	5	6	7
7	21	28	35	42	49	R	O	T	A	S
6	18	24	30	36	42	O	P	E	R	A
5	15	20	25	30	35	T	E	N	E	T
4	12	16	20	24	28	A	R	E	P	O
3	9	12	15	18	21	S	A	T	O	R

x*y	3	4	5	6	7
7	21	28	35	42	49	R	O	T	A	S
6	18	24	30	36	42	O	P	E	R	A
5	15	20	25	30	35	T	E	N	E	T
4	12	16	20	24	28	A	R	E	P	O
3	9	12	15	18	21	S	A	T	O	R