Two stones, one flat, with a monogram, the other with fielded panels.
In memory of Robert Strachan, 1623
With his own arms on two shields marshalled with those of his two wives.
When improving the Howff in 1834 the sides of this monument were much decayed, but one of these were
fragments of a Greek inscription which could not be deciphered, and on the other
a Latin inscription.
"_____ΟΝ . ΔΕ . ΒΟΥΛΟΊΜΗΝ . ΑΝ .
ΑΕΊΟΥΜΗΝΟΝ_____
____ΤΟΝ . ΕΜΟΝ . ΟRΑΣǾΑI. ΔIΑ .ΚRΟΥ____ΧΑΡΙS"
"Memoriae sacrum Jacobi Strachani.
vir integerrimi qui obiit Anno Domini_____aetatis LXXV ja___illus
in__eres___mors"
Source: The Book of the Howff,
©Libraries, Leisure and Culture Dundee, Local History Centre & is reproduced
with kind permission.
Mr Edmund Faulkes, Teacher of
Classics at the High School of Dundee very kindly tackled the above Greek
inscription and has given permission to reproduce his explanation.
"I have worked it out – and garbled
Greek it was - but this is the definitive Greek and the translation.
First the text should read :
[ΤΥΜΒ]ΟΝ
ΔΕ ΒΟΥΛΟΙΜΗΝ ΑΝ ΑΞΙΟΥΜΕΝΟΝ
ΤΟΝ ΕΜΟΝ ΟΡΑΣΘΑΙ.
ΔΙΑ [ΜΑ]ΚΡΟΥ
[ΥΑΡ Η] ΧΑΡΙΣ
ΤΥΜΒΟΝ ΔΕ ΒΟΥΛΟΙΜΗΝ ΑΝ ΑΞΙΟΥΜΕΝΟΝ
ΤΟΝ ΕΜΟΝ ΟΡΑΣΘΑΙ. ΔΙΑ ΜΑΚΡΟΥ ΥΑΡ Η ΧΑΡΙΣ ".
(Unfortunately I do not have the required fonts within the
editing software to display this correctly so have replaced the text with the
above image).
"Clearly some of the letters were copied down incorrectly
or were worn and it was clear that the copyist wasn’t totally familiar with the
Greek alphabet. First text shows the letters I have altered in red. Second the
inscription as it ought to be written, 3rd in lower case Greek
letters.
It is taken from a play by Euripides the Hecuba lines
319-320.
It has a very suitable sentiment for a tombstone:
If it were me, I would not care if,
when alive, I lived a poor man’s life, but when I die,
I would like my tomb to be seen more worthy. For this
kindness means a lot.
The first line is the previous two lines of the play, the
second line is the translation of the Greek on the tombstone".
Again, many thanks to Mr Faulkes
for his translation as he has solved a mystery that has existed for over 180
years.
Hiere lyis an godly and verteous man named Robert Strachan
wright burges of Dundie who departed this lyf the 28 of Apprill 1653 being of
age 73 yeirs
Heir lyis ane godly and verteous man named Robert Strachan younger wright who
departed this lyf the 15 day of Sept 1690 being of age 70
Here lyes Robert Meal taylor in Dundie who died February 3rd 1744 and of his age
57 years.
1653 Robert Strachan, wright.
Revised by Robert Meal taylor, Dundie in 1744
Source:RT
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