ROMA - AMOR – Latin Palindromes
The original Byzantine fountain (bottle) that was located in the atrium of Hagia Sophia and bore the famous cancerous inscription "NIPSON ANOMIMATA MI MONAN OPSIN" does not survive today.
This phrase, which is read the same backwards (palindromic), meant "Wash your sins and not just your face" and reminded the faithful of the need for spiritual purification before entering the temple.
Although the original fountain of Hagia Sophia has been lost, you can find the same inscription in other places:
Monastery of Zoodochos Pigi (Valoukli): In Constantinople, the inscription is engraved above the holy water.
Other locations: Similar inscriptions exist on fountains and temples in Greece (such as at the Monastery of Agia Lavra) and in various European churches.
Modern Fountain of Hagia Sophia: The current fountain that visitors see in the courtyard of Hagia Sophia (Shadirvan) is Ottoman, built in 1740 by Sultan Mahmud I, and bears Arabic inscriptions and not the Greek palindrome.
A cancerous word or phrase is one that can be read backwards, such as the word SERRES.
But why do we call them cancerous? Because, he says, the eye moves first from left to right and then from right to left to read them, that is, like a crab. Inevitably, in our time with the spread of the insidious disease, the term "cancerous word" does not sound very pleasant. It should be noted that in almost all European languages, cancerous phrases are called by another term, and only the Greek language differs. The funny thing is that this other term is of Greek origin: palindromes in English and French.
By M Disdero – Taken at Oppede, Luberon, France, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3262506
Sator Square in Pompeii. It is unique because it forms a two-dimensional square of words that can be read from top to bottom, Sator Arepo Tenet Opera Rotas
Commonly known as Sator Square, it is a five-word sentence found in the ruins from bottom to top, left to right, and right to left.
Translation: “The Arepo sower holds the wheels with effort.
GREEK PALINDROMES
Greek palindromes have a special charm due to the flexibility of our language. In addition to the well-known one from Hagia Sophia, there are some excellent examples, from ancient to modern "constructions".
Here are the most impressive:
- The Top (The Cancer Inscription) "NIPSON ANOMIMATA MI MONAN OPSIS"
Translation: Wash away your sins and not just your face.
History: Attributed to Gregory of Nazianzus. It is the most famous Greek palindrome in the world and adorned the phials (fountains) of many Byzantine churches.
- Smart Modern Phrases
These are creations of later scholars who play with syntax:
"WISE ARE YOU, LIGHT IS YOU": A beautiful phrase that means "You are wise, you are light."
"SUN, SUN APPLE": A humorous and everyday example.
"ANOMA MONA": Only illegal (things).
- Complete Poems
There are writers who have written entire pages in recursion. A famous example is the poem that begins:
"Say nothing, don't laugh..." (Don't say anything, don't laugh...)
"Law, the common man, have your own household" (Have the law of the state, law in your household as well),
"I am yours, honest, yours" (I am yours, honest, yours),
"Whether you speak wisely or not, we walk on the same earth and are buried in the same earth,"
"From your own sacred words, O Sun, everyone runs with great joy,"
"I am sick. You who are the medicine, Jesus, save me" (I am sick. You who are the medicine, Jesus, save me), and many others…
Imagine reading a book starting from the last page, from the last sentence, and essentially reading the beginning of the story... And... reaching the first page, ending up at the end of it..!
There is also the anecdote about the first "cancerous" phrase, which was supposedly said by Adam, when he met Eve. What did he say to her? "Madam, I'm Adam."
- Palindromic Words (Monoliterals)
Some words that are read the same from both sides:
SERRES (The city)
ANNA (The name)
BUT
AKAKAA
ALALA
The verse of Sidonius Apollinarius
"Roma tibi subito motibus ibit amo"
Translated from English by Dimitris Symeonidis JP
This classic verse is one of the most famous Latin palindromic verses, and Sidonius Apollinarius includes it in his letters (Epistles 9.14).
It translates as "Rome, to you love will come suddenly with passion" (or "with movements").
Here's why he's so notable in Roman literature:
The “Cancrine” verse: Sidonius referred to verses such as recurrentes or reciprocus versus (“mutual verse”), which we now call palindromic verses.
The Roma/Amor connection: The sentence plays on the ancient Roman charm with the fact that ROMA spelled backwards is AMOR (Love).
Legendary Origin: While Sidonius recorded it in the 5th century, he actually described it as illud antiquum ("this old thing"), suggesting that it was already ancient in his time. It is sometimes associated with a medieval legend in which a demon must recite it while carrying Saint Martin of Tours to Rome.
Palindromes were also important in the Roman world. In Latin, a word read in both forms was later called cancrine ("crab-like").
Publius Aelius Hadrianus (the Emperor Hadrian), who was famously obsessed with Greek and Latin wordplay and the mystical connection between them.
ROMA and LOVE.
Emperor Hadrian famously designed the Temple of Aphrodite and Rome, an architectural expression of palindrome. The temple had two interior chambers positioned backwards, one for Aphrodite (Eros) and one for Rome, reflecting the palindrome reversal of their names.
This is an interesting observation! "Roma" reversed actually spells AMOR, which means "love" in Spanish, Portuguese, and Latin. This has inspired some poetic or symbolic interpretations:
Roma (Rome in Italian/Spanish) → Amor (Love in Latin/Spanish/Portuguese)
It may represent the idea of Rome associated with love, art, or passion.
In some contexts, it has been used as a pun or artistic medium — as is well known, Spanish painter Salvador Dali mentioned it in some of his works.
There is also a Latin proverb:
"Roma amor, tibi subito motibus ibit amor".
"Love Rome, love will suddenly move towards you"
(This is more of a play on words than a well-known proverb, playing with the reversal of letters.)
Therefore, it is not an "opposite" in meaning, but rather a mirror-word relationship.
Because the play between ROMA and AMOR (Rome and Love) is the basis of Sidonius' palindrome, I made a poem that plays with this eternal reversal:
The Mirror of Rome
Poem by Dimitris Symeonidis JP
On the stone above, ROMA carves her name,
with sword and glory, her momentum through the centuries.
But if you bend down to the water of the Tiber to see,
her image upside down, you'll be surprised.
Where power ends, the pulse begins,
AMOR emerges, a hidden whisper.
Because every road that leads to Rome,
It is a path that love has traveled.
ROMA the city, AMOR the heart,
two words dancing in the same order.
Read forward, read back, you will find the same thing:
If you live in Rome, you will taste love.
Latin palindromes (or "cancer" phrases) are words or sentences in the Latin language that read exactly the same whether read from left to right or from right to left. They are characterized by symmetry in terms of letters and often have intelligent or enigmatic content. In Greek, the term Cancer Words prevailed. The term comes from the movement of the crab ("cancer" in Katharevousa), which moves sideways, reminiscent of reading back and forth.
A palindrome poem:
“Witches burn,” Robert Lee Brewer
Gypsies tell girls,
“Witches burn candles,”
and laugh. Cats
jump fences.
Shadows cast spells in
Darkness
in spells cast shadows.
“Fences jump, cats laugh,
and candles burn witches,”
girls tell gypsies.
There is also a poem by James Albert Lindon (1914 – 1979) titled “Doppelganger.” The poem goes as follows:
Entering the lonely house with my wife
I saw him for the first time.
Peeking behind a bush –
Black that moved,
A figure among the shadows,
A fleeting glance into bright eyes
It was revealed in the tattered moon.
A closer look (he seemed to be turning) might have had him
Makes it go away forever –
I didn't dare.
(For reasons I don't understand),
Although I knew I had to act immediately.
I wondered, hiding alone,
Watching the woman as she approached the gate.
He came, and I saw him bending over
Night after night.
Night after night
He came, and I saw him bending,
Watching the woman as she approached the gate.
I wonder, hidden alone –
Although I knew I had to act immediately,
For reasons I didn't understand
I didn't dare.
To put him on the run forever.
A closer look (it seemed to be turning) might have
Revealed in the tattered moon
A fleeting glance into bright eyes
A figure among the shadows,
Black that was moving.
Peeking secretly from behind a bush,
I saw him for the first time.
To enter the lonely house with my wife
There is also a poem by James Albert Lindon (1914 – 1979) called “Doppelganger” The poem goes as follows:
Entering the lonely house with my wife
I saw him for the first time.
Peering furtively from behind a bush –
Blackness that moved,
A shape amidst the shadows,
A momentary glimpse of gleaming eyes
Revealed in the ragged moon.
A closer look (he seemed to turn) might have
Put him to flight forever –
I dare not
(For reasons that I failed to understand),
Although I knew I should act at once.
I puzzled over it, hiding alone,
Watching the woman as she approached the gate.
He came, and I saw him crouching
Night after night.
Night after night
He came, and I saw him crouching,
Watching the woman as she approached the gate.
I puzzled over it, hiding alone –
Though I knew I should act at once,
For reasons that I failed to understand
I dare not
Put him to flight forever.
A closer look (he seemed to turn) might have
Revealed in the ragged moon
A momentary glimpse of gleaming eyes
A shape amidst the shadows,
Blackness that moved.
Peering furtively from behind a bush,
I saw him for the first time.
Entering the lonely house with my wife
Annex:
AMBROSE, hieromonk, of Pamperis.
A poem about cancer, with comments and the stories contained therein, for the greatest benefit to those who read it accurately and with due attention, now first published in print.
The "Poem of Cancer" is a rare and curious example of Greek literature of the early 19th century, known for the peculiarity of its structure and its rich commentary.
Author & Publication: Written by Ambrosios Papadopoulos (or hieromonk Ambrosios) and first published in 1802 in Vienna by the printing house of Georgios Bendotis.
The Nature of the Poem: The term "karkinikon" refers to verses that can be read backwards (palindromes), like the movement of the crab (carcinou). This particular work is an extensive composition in iambic fifteen-syllable, where each verse can be read from the beginning and from the end.
Content & Commentary: The book is not limited to the lyrics, but includes extensive commentaries and stories that explain its meaning and sources, offering "the greatest benefit" to scholars.
Dedication: The edition was dedicated to the Emperor of Russia Alexander I, often accompanied by a copperplate engraving with his portrait.
The Structure of the Verses
The architecture of the poem follows strict rules that make it unique:
Iambic Pentasyllable: Despite the technical limitation, Pamperis uses our traditional national verse, maintaining the meter and rhythm.
Palindromic Reading (Cancer): Each verse is a perfect palindromic, meaning it is read letter by letter in exactly the same way either from beginning to end or from end to beginning.
Thematic Unit: The poem consists of 416 cancerous verses. Despite this limitation, the author manages to develop a coherent eulogy for Emperor Alexander I, avoiding the simple juxtaposition of incoherent words.
Commentary and Stories: The structure of the book is such that there is extensive commentary below the verses. Pamperis explains the meaning of the words and cites historical and moral examples to make the work beneficial to the reader, as the cursive writing often leads to difficult-to-understand expressions.
The poem dedicated to the Emperor of Russia ALEXANDER I by Ambrosius Pamperi
I AM GREAT, AND RESPECTFUL, EMPEROR
ALEXANDER OF ALL RUSSIANS
SO, FIRST OF ALL,
O ONAX, you are what God has ordained from above,
You, rightly, said, "Look, you have conquered, O throne."
First of all, let's go to the end,
Oh, my God, I am a people like a MONARCH.
The wind was blowing in the wind, and I thought I would stay here, but here is joy,
A'ete was you what SA, or ete.
Oh, I love all the lands, all the lands,
Ain, d'aidou, what are you, O two adonias?
Then, for the mind is not a race,
You saved as the dawn of the day, as those you saved.
I cause, I eat, I drink, I eat, I give you causes.
First of all, we are all going to hell,
Yes, they followed the same law, without exception.
You have led me to the end, and I will give you my blessings, O earth.
I say to you, earth, save every source.
In the land of the Russians, how beautifully it was created,
New, which is always yours, therefore everyone loves you.
Bring forth the nations, O God of the food,
To the holy one, O Savior, you are a gift to the people.
- But all of you, O light, be wise. O light, what are many things to you?
IV
Oh, ineffable good, evident,
A'tarachos, who were AGASIOS, oh joy! what?
She is a virgin, but think, Moses, O true MEDON.
She was a light, so she was carried.
Let us understand what is the reason for our resignation.
A lesson he had, one that was not a miracle.
A year of education, remember, these,
Oh, my dear, I have heard of you.
There are many other things that SA, but Palladion,
If I give a gift, O give a gift, for there was a source of salvation, the mind of thee, give it to the earth.
The former all is all gone,
Jesus, all of you, the earth, you are the MUSICIAN of all.
Come, come
I myself, and other nations, which were not me;
Oh, you are the one who is
OF
YOUR RESPECTFUL MOTHER AND
HIS MAJESTY'S STATE.
It is a new year.
November 12th.
little sign
and bowing
AMBROSIOS I, HIEROMONK
THE PAMBERS.
Some of the 416 cancer verses found in the book of Ambrose the Hieromonk of Pampere. The poem with the explanations begins on Page 1-55 and then refers to mythological and historical figures, then to epigrams and ends with Odysseus. The book has 171 pages
Page 2
THE FACTORY
3 New things now, to the world forever
4 Those things, I say to the evil one, laugh at them.
5 Oh, he says evil things, he laughs evilly.
6 But in another place, say lions and others.
7 If you are uncertain about your beginning, or are you ignorant of it?
8 Do they love those things which are not good, but virtues?
3 The Poles have often been separated from the Russians; the present evils are worse than the former. Hence these new things are called evil, and as if unexpected. The present evils are unusual for the land, as if for the sake of the excess of the ascendant.
4 – He is a pestilent person who plunders the commons of these existing people, as well as those who may be lost. And I, by chastising the reputation of the wretch, but he, with his uncovered head, swallows up much of the laughter of our councils. The syntax is a definite one, and the possessive pronoun is a possessive one.
- Then, a figure of absorption, painted according to this, to the same commander Sevaroff, if he is speaking, constantly sent to that palmist, so that he may laugh at his own antics and misdeeds, or that he may be convinced of the dangers that lie ahead; so that he may consider you a friend.
6. The peresia of wickedness of spouses. contempt of those who are called abstemious, and folly falls. Hence, beware, and when you are ignorant, say, "Creative," that is, stronger than these. If such things are not, I exhort with a certain hex; for to the ignorant, exhortation is a chain; but threatening, and yet similar.
- 7. The one who is in charge of the government, who is both harmful and tyrant, who is a burden to the people, and who is a burden to the people, is therefore useless to you; for if you are the most numerous, you will attract to yourself the common aversion.
8 In this judgment seat, if you are ungodly,
They urged, befitting her, this
This property, and this life, by bringing it to the fore, to bring evil into the past, and to remove all the blindness about the most beautiful things?
Hieromonk Ambrose or Pamperis of Moschopolis. Biography
He was born in Moschopolis in 1733, where he studied under Kavalliotis, becoming proficient in the Greek and Vlach languages, and then he became a hermit in the monastery of St. Naum. He traveled throughout Romania teaching, Hungary and Germany, and was one of the first founders of Orthodox Churches in Leipzig. His works are listed by Xavier. While living in Leipzig, he supervised the publication of the Physics of Nik Theotokis in 1766. Ambrose was a monk of the monastery of Saint Naum, as is evident from the end of this chapter of his epigram. He also proceeded to reprint the Epistolary of Korndalleus, published in Moschopolis in 1768, as we have seen, because the "unreasonable and uninteresting collection of letters from the outside, in a short time, checked the constitution that had thus arrived," as he writes "to the philologists of the Greeks" in the prefaces, adding something like this: As well as being free from corruption, from all unnecessary absurdities, and seemingly coherent, the letter that bears on the letter has changed, and the originality of the archetype is accurately preserved, this itself clearly declares what has been seen, and nothing is lost. "...incessantly worshipped." From this passage, as
From the name of the lion, not all recognize the talent of Ambrose in the Greek language. But he was above all distinguished as a poet, having composed various poems according to Xavier, especially the: Poem on Cancer with comments and the Stories contained therein for the greatest benefit to those who read it accurately and with due attention… AOB'. In Vienna of Austria” 8th p. VIII, 151. This strange work of vain intellect is composed of verses of 416 canticles in an epic dialect, in which it glorifies the exploits of Catherine II, Empress of Russia, against the Lechs and the trophies she erected for the brave general Suvorov. It is dedicated, in 36 canticles, to Emperor Alexander I, her grandson. The author wrote, he says, "for the greatest benefit" and for "the industrious youth, especially those who have been burned on Pieria, to be trained in verse writing," which, however, would not have benefited at all from the tedious and untrained training of the venerable old man who was suffering from cancer if the footnotes had not added a detailed interpretation of the verses, and finally, the "Control of the stories mentioned in the present verse writing," which prove that Ambrose was a very restrained philologist. Ambrose's undertaking can be considered a parody of the Aeneid of the great Eugenius of Bulgarian transformed into Homeric hexameters (a phenomenon of the time, and if anything else, demonstrating the profound Hellenistic knowledge of the members of the New Academy). In this regard, Ambrose's work also had miraculous epithets, as the following testifies:
Epigram of the most noble Baron Langemfeld, Mr. Christodoulou Kürland (at the end he writes: Gerland).
Greece, you wish, they had other people's carts,
This mind is not good, I am afraid of you.
But I ask you, those who desire and other things,
He finds wisdom, or reasons, for swelling.
To whom, in praise of the Antidides, Ambrose composes this verse:
Aeneas, to whom I have heard a new story of Hiero,
If you think otherwise, O wise man, think otherwise, in what you
But when it comes to nature, learning was a wonder and a glory.
O sun of pure joy, so are your lips pure.
For the sake of exegesis, and so as not to offend the neo-academics who are entering, we mention to them that Ambrose "translated into our simple dialect from Greek the history of the war of the Genoese by the Russians and Turks, which was written by Caesarius, bishop of Rimmon.
Ancient Poets of Palindromic Poetry
A brief biography of the Cynaean poet Sotades Maronite 320-260 BC
Comedian and satirical poet of the Hellenistic period. Birthplace: Maronia, Thrace (hence the name “Maroneite”).
During the era of the first Successors of Alexander, mainly at the Courts of Lysimachus (Thrace) and Ptolemy II Philadelphus (Alexandria).
Creator of the “Cinaeid Verse”: He invented a new poetic genre, “Cinaeid” (from the word κιναίδος, which denoted obscenity or extremeness). It was a complex, flexible meter, suitable for satire.
Pioneer of Palindromic Verse: He was the first to compose palindromic (cancer) verses, that is, verses that could be read in both directions, a technical masterpiece.
His poems were satirical, obscene, and personally offensive, directed against powerful rulers and public figures of his time.
The Legend of Punishment & His Death:
The most famous story (reported by Plutarch and others) says that he violently satirized the marriage of Ptolemy II to his sister, Arsinoe II, which Sotades called a "morphēma ἀθεμιτον" (unlawful act).
For this "blasphemy", Ptolemy II imprisoned him in a lead box and threw him into the sea, drowning him.
This dramatic ending made him a legendary symbol of the dangerous weight of free speech against tyranny.
Although most of his work has been lost (possibly due to problematic content), his reputation as "the pornographer" has endured.
In this unholy trinity the center is raised
You push your sting into an unholy hole
(Athenian volume 14 paragraph 621)
The quintet verse was later used by other poets.
He remains a symbolic figure of radical satire, experimentation with language, and the tragic risk that political and religious blasphemy can bring.
Suda, Lexicon
Alphabetic letter sigma, entry 871, line 1
<Sotades,> Cretan, Maronite, demoniac, iambic poet. Phlyakas, that is, the Cynaids, wrote in the Ionian dialect; and for these were called Ionian languages. And this knowledge was used by Alexander the Aetolian, and Pyrrhus the Milesian, and Theodore, and Timocharis, and Sigma.871.5
Xenarchus. But there are many of his species; such as: Descent into Hades; Priapus; Into Belestich; Amazons; and others.
Also according to traditions, two other personalities, Saint Gregory the Theologian and Leo the 6thο who dealt with palindromes
In many sources and traditions, the palindrome "Nipson anomama, mi monan ὄπσιν" is attributed to Saint Gregory the Theologian (c. 329-390 AD), one of the Three Hierarchs and a very important theologian of the Orthodox Church.
There is also a strong related tradition that associates Leo VI (866 – 11 May 912 AD) with palindromes. The most famous, of course, is his connection with the classic "Nipson ἀνομήματα, μὴ μοναν ὄπσιν".
He is not often considered the author, but rather the spectator or interpreter. A widespread story (recorded in later manuscripts and popular narratives) says that Leo VI was the one who first “solved” the mystery of the palindrome.
It is said that when the palindrome inscription was found, no one could interpret it. Leo the Wise, with his great education and intelligence, was the one who read it and explained its meaning (“Cleanse your sins, not just your face”).
Ancient Poets of Palindromic Poetry
A brief biography of the Cynaean poet Sotades Maronite 320-260 BC
Comedian and satirical poet of the Hellenistic period. Birthplace: Maronia, Thrace (hence the name “Maroneite”).
During the era of the first Successors of Alexander, mainly at the Courts of Lysimachus (Thrace) and Ptolemy II Philadelphus (Alexandria).
Creator of the “Cinaeid Verse”: He invented a new poetic genre, “Cinaeid” (from the word κιναίδος, which denoted obscenity or extremeness). It was a complex, flexible meter, suitable for satire.
Pioneer of Palindromic Verse: He was the first to compose palindromic (cancer) verses, that is, verses that could be read in both directions, a technical masterpiece.
His poems were satirical, obscene, and personally offensive, directed against powerful rulers and public figures of his time.
The Legend of Punishment & His Death:
The most famous story (reported by Plutarch and others) says that he violently satirized the marriage of Ptolemy II to his sister, Arsinoe II, which Sotades called a "morphēma ἀθεμιτον" (unlawful act).
For this "blasphemy", Ptolemy II imprisoned him in a lead box and threw him into the sea, drowning him.
This dramatic ending made him a legendary symbol of the dangerous weight of free speech against tyranny.
Although most of his work has been lost (possibly due to problematic content), his reputation as "the pornographer" has endured.
In this unholy trinity the center is raised
You push your sting into an unholy hole
(Athenian volume 14 paragraph 621)
The quintet verse was later used by other poets.
He remains a symbolic figure of radical satire, experimentation with language, and the tragic risk that political and religious blasphemy can bring.
Greek Palindromes
Why did they write cancer?
For the scholars of the Ottoman Empire, kanker writing was not just entertainment, but:
Spiritual exercise: A form of "prayer" through absolute concentration.
Proof of Continuity: They wanted to show that the Greeks remain heirs of ancient wisdom and Byzantine tradition.
The following scholars used cancer verses either their own or edited cancer verses of others.
Paisios Ligaridis (1610 Chios – 1678 Moscow)
Before becoming a monk, he was called Pantoleon. He was born in Chios and had a significant education. He was a wise and eloquent man. He served as a teacher at the School of Iasi. He taught philology and theology for six years at the Greek College of Rome, founded in 1577 by Pope Gregory XIII. Initially, he was a defender of Latin innovations, but later he returned to the Orthodox faith of his ancestors and turned against the Catholics and Calvinists. He returned to Constantinople and was promoted by the Orthodox Church to Metropolitan of Gaza. In 1657 he was appointed as the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Alexandria. He went to Moldavia and was appointed professor at the authentic school of Iasi. He was appointed by the Tsar of Russia as president of the Synod of Russia. He died in Russia in 1678.
The Chian priest and scholar is considered one of the leading craftsmen of the genre. He wrote entire poems in the Karkin script, with his most famous work referring to the Virgin Mary. His verses were not simply single phrases, but complex poetic forms.
Paisios Ligaridis is indeed considered one of the most skillful "karkinographers" (writers of palindromes) of the post-Byzantine period. His ability to compose entire poems that can be read both ways, while maintaining theological meaning and meter, was unique.
His most famous work is a Canon to the Most Holy Theotokos, which consists entirely of canonic verses.
Samples of Cancer Verses by Paisios Ligaridis
Here are some characteristic verses from his work (note that in Cancerian writing, tones and spirits are often omitted or adjusted to achieve symmetry):
"You, O Anassa, save those who descend into Hades"
(So you, Queen, save [these souls] for whom Hades awaits.)
"New, pure, reverent, agé, entheon"
(New, pure reverence, holy, divine).
"You, Mother, keep your relatives close"
(You, pure Mother, keep your descendants/race close to you).
"May the Lord, O God, grant you a silent word."
(The day brings You, God, the word is silent).
Characteristics of his Art
Complexity: In contrast to the simple "Νιψον ἀνομήματα", Ligaridis used rare vocabulary and archaic language to manage to "close" the meaning within the constraints of two-way reading.
Theme: His palindromic poems were mainly of a laudatory nature to the Virgin Mary or God, functioning as a form of "spiritual exercise" and demonstration of scholarly education.
Historical Context: His work is recorded in codices of the time, such as in Codex 328 of the Monastery of Panteleimon on Mount Athos, which includes his "Cancer Works".
During the 17th and 18th centuries, palindromic writing was considered the ultimate proof of philological skill and intelligence. In addition to Paisios Ligarides, several other scholars indulged in this "intellectual game":
Leo Allatius (1586–1669)
A contemporary and compatriot of Ligarides from Chios, Allatios was one of the greatest sages of Europe and librarian of the Vatican.
His work: He wrote extensive cancer poems and epigrams. His engagement with cancer was part of his effort to highlight the plasticity of the Greek language, proving that it can be subjected to any constraint.
Leone Allacci, as one of the most learned men of his time, used the Cancerian script to demonstrate the power of the Greek language, which he considered superior to all others.
His works on cancer are found mainly in manuscripts in the Vatican Library and in rare 17th-century editions.
Samples of Cancer Verses by Leo Allatios
His verses are often incorporated into laudatory epigrams. Some characteristic examples attributed to him or included in his collections are:
"New, pure, reverent, agé, entheon"
(A verse shared with the tradition of Ligaridis, as Chian scholars exchanged such figures).
"You, O Anassa, save those who descend into Hades"
(Also common in the verbally cancerous poetry of the era, which praises the Virgin Mary).
Allatius' work is extensive and much of it remains unpublished in the original:
“De Græcorum hodie quorundam opinationibus”: In such essays he often cited examples of Greek lyrical talent.
There are digitized documents of his in the Vatican Library (Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana), where his personal archive is kept.
References to his cancer lyrics are also found in the studies of Konstantinos Sathas in his work Modern Greek Literature (available in the “Anemi” Digital Library).
The Speciality of Allat
Allatius did not simply write individual verses, but “cancer epigrams.” That is, short poems where each line was palindromic, but together the poem conveyed a complete theological or philosophical meaning. It was his way of showing his Latin colleagues in the Vatican that the Greek language was “living” and “pliable.”
Nikolaos Glykys (17th century)
Renowned printer and scholar from Ioannina, who worked in Venice. cancer verses
Nikolaos Glykys (1619-1693) was one of the most important Epirus scholars and the founder of the longest-running Greek printing house in Venice.
Although his name is identified with publishing activity, as a scholar of his time he participated in the tradition of kankeric writing. His verses often adorned his publications, functioning as examples of education and as "intellectual ornaments".
Typical Samples
One of the most famous canonic verses attributed to him (and which is often found in scholarly publications of the time) is the following epigram about the Virgin Mary:
"We bring you joy, O breath, the arachnids remain the same"
(Grant me joy, Queen, which remains unperturbed).
Resolution:
Reading: If you read it backwards (letter by letter), the phrase remains the same.
Meaning: The word “ἄραχον” (from a-steritikos and rassos/tarassos) refers to the undisturbed peace offered by the Theotokos.
His Typographical Seal
Glykys used the bee as the logo of his printing house, which symbolized industriousness and the gathering of “sweet” knowledge. Often, next to this symbol, cancer couplets were placed that emphasized the timelessness of the letters.
Other Lyrics
In many of his publications (such as the Great Horologion or the Psalter), palindromic verses were included that functioned as dedications.
Glykys was not just a craftsman of speech; he was the man who rescued these forms. By printing the cancerous poems of Ligarides and other scholars, he ensured that this particular form of Byzantine and post-Byzantine poetry reached every corner of Hellenism through his books.
Constantine Dapontes (Caesarios) (1713–1784)
Although a little later, the Skopje monk and scholar is the "king" of wordplay and lyrical experimentation. more about him and some of his verses
Caesar (Constantine) Dapontes is the most exuberant and idiosyncratic figure of 18th-century Greek letters. He was a true “artist of words” who transformed poetry into a combination of theology and mathematical precision.
Why is he considered the "King of Word Games"?
Dapontes did not limit himself to simple palindromes. In his works, such as "Garden of Graces", he experimented with extreme forms of lyricism:
Cancer Scripture: He wrote entire canons and hymns that are read both ways.
Leiogram: Poems from which a specific letter was intentionally missing (e.g. entire hymns without the letter "s").
Acrostic verses: Complex shapes where the initial letters of the verses formed prayers or his name.
Polyglot Poems: Verses that combined Greek, Latin, and Italian in a way that maintained meter.
Samples and Lyrics of
Among his most characteristic cancerous couplets about the Virgin Mary are the following:
"We bring you joy, O breath, the arachnids remain the same"
(Grant me joy, Queen, that remains undisturbed).
"You, O Anassa, save those who descend into Hades"
(You Queen, save [these souls] whom Hades awaits).
"Mother, Agne, keep your relatives close"
(Pure mother, keep your offspring close to you).
In his work "Mirror of Women", he often uses canonic writing to emphasize spiritual purity, believing that the perfect symmetry of the verse reflects the perfection of divine creation.
His life in headlines
Skopelitis: He was born in Skopelos and was a diplomat (secretary) to the rulers of Wallachia.
From riches to monasticism: After an adventurous life and imprisonments, he retired to Mount Athos (Xiropotamos Monastery), where he dedicated himself to writing.
Polygraph: His work exceeds thousands of pages, combining personal confession with ecclesiastical hymnography.
Christopher Kontoleon (16th/17th century)
A Cretan scholar who lived in Rome. He was one of the first to revive the fashion for cancer verses in ecclesiastical poetry after the Fall, directly influencing Ligaridis' generation.
Christopher Kontoleon is one of the most interesting figures of the Cretan Renaissance and the Greek diaspora in Italy. Although his name is not as widely known as Daponte's, his contribution to the revival of canonic poetry was catalytic, as he bridged the Byzantine tradition with the 16th and 17th century literary tradition.
Who was Christopher Kontoleon?
Origin: He was born in Crete (most likely in Chania or Chandaka) at a time when the island was under Venetian rule and letters flourished.
Studies and Activities: He emigrated to Rome, where he joined the circles of Greek scholars. There he studied at the Hellenic College of Saint Athanasius, which became a breeding ground for many carcinographers (such as later Ligaridis and Allatios).
His Role: Considered the "teacher" or inspirer of the next generation of carcinographers. He brought back the fashion of the palindromes not as a simple game, but as a high theological exercise, proving that the Greek language could rival Latin in complexity.
Kontoleon's verses are distinguished by their strict archaic language. Many of his works are found in Codex 1483 of the Vatican Library.
One of the most famous cancer epigrams attributed to him (or which he himself edited and disseminated) is the following:
"New, pure, reverent, agé, entheon"
(Bring, pure [Theotokos], new divine reverence).
He also often used variations of the verse:
"You, O Anassa, save those who descend into Hades"
(You Queen, save [those] whom Hades [waits]) – a verse that became a “model” for all later ones.
Another example of his skill is his attempt to compose entire stanzas where each line is cancerous, such as:
"May the Lord, O God, grant you a silent word."
(The day brings You, God, the word falls silent).
Kontoleon "taught" his contemporaries that the Cancerian script is a form of verbal image (icon). Just as an image is symmetrical and sacred, so too should speech be symmetrical. This idea directly influenced
The Teaching of Greek Letters
Cretan scholars occupied leading positions in Italian universities (Padua, Venice, Rome), teaching the great humanists of the West.
Markos Mousouros: He was a close collaborator of Aldus Manutius in Venice. He edited the first editions of Plato and Aristophanes, defining the way Europe read the classics.
Francis of Portos: He taught in Geneva and was a teacher of important Protestant scholars, conveying critical thinking and philological precision.
The Transmission of “Cancer” and Technical Poetry
As we saw with Christopher Kontoleon, the Cretans brought to Italy a love of wordplay, palindromes, and riddles. This trend influenced the Baroque movement in Europe, where virtuosity and complexity of form (such as cancer poems) became fashionable in the courts of rulers.
Comment
Dimitris Symeonidis really surprised me with this article, because he presents evidence that overturns the impression we had in the past that the cancer or palindromic words and inscriptions are Byzantine, while they originate from antiquity.
This study is important because it presents unknown or silenced pieces of ancient Greek literature and makes us aware of hidden or secret truths that have been lost over the centuries worldwide.
For many years now, D. Symeonidis has continued to amaze us from the Antipodes where he lives with his analyses of rare words, which we never even imagined had Greek origins. He is a rare man who lives far away from the Metropolis and it is strange how he can express himself and write in an incomparable way that we really like.
It is a shame that despite the fact that he has been sending letters to certain people of letters and arts in Greece for decades, no one has been interested in promoting his work to the appropriate organizations so that he can receive a grant to continue this wonderful offering, and unfortunately...
There has been no recognition so far in the literary world, nor has his important work been recognized with awards from various bodies.
On the other hand, we know very well as we go along that the Greek language has already taken a downward turn. Great efforts must be made so that the youth can awaken and become Hellenized again with changes in school programs and receive the right education at a time when in foreign countries ancient Greek is taught from the fifth grade, as in England, while in Greece they are going to abolish in this way the analytical and critical thinking of the youth, resulting in us reaching the point where our young people cannot understand even a simple text.
Yannis Fourtounas, otolaryngologist
Professor at Al Azhar University, Cairo
Sources:
https://lexografimata.gr/2018/02/27/karkinikes-lexeisAC
Power of the Palindrome: Writing, Reading, and Wordplay (Part II)
https://sportime.gr/viral/pies-ine-i-karkinikes-lexis-ke-frasis/
https://mythagogia.blogspot.com/2017/06/blog-post_8.html
https://britannica.com/place/Byzantine-Empire/The-6th-century-from-East-Rome-to-Byzantium
Athenaeus.Apanta 14. Deipnosophists (620-621)
Evlogiou Kourila Lavriotou: Gregory of Argyrokastrians. Epimeter, the History of Moschopolis and its Culture. Athens, 1935.
Poem The Mirror of Rome by Dimitris Symeonidis
The Macedonian scholar Ambrosios Pamperis published in 1802 an entire book consisting of cancer verses, demonstrating the complexity that this form of writing can reach.
Also, Sofia Stampoliti released the book 707 cancer phrases
Commentary by Yannis Fourtounas, Professor of Coptology at Al Azhar University in Cairo
Photo By Römischer Meister um 125 v. Chr. – The Yorck Project (2002) 10.000 Meisterwerke der Malerei (DVD-ROM), distributed by DIRECTMEDIA Publishing GmbH. ISBN: 3936122202., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=158438, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
