LONDON -- Beginning to feel like you've exhausted the challenge of the Sunday crossword? Here's a new puzzle to get your teeth stuck into: a 13th century sword with a hidden message.
The sword, on loan from the British Museum, was found in River Witham, Lincolnshire in the 19th century and comes with an as of yet undecipherable inscription that the British Library are asking the public to have a go at solving.
"It has been speculated that this is a religious invocation, since the language is unknown" the British Library wrote in a blog post, which comes with a comments section full of ideas from people trying their hand at deciphering the message.
User Brendan O went with "This was clearly St George's sword: Now, Dagger: O ClasH With DRaGon's HeaD! O Reap VIctory!", whilst others speculated whether the Rs were Rs and if the inscription in fact had any meaning at all.
[img src="http://admin.mashable.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Close-up-of-sword.jpg" caption="A close up of the sword's inscription, which reads "+NDXOXCHWDRGHDXORVI+ ". " credit="British Museum " alt="Close up of sword's message."]
The British Library has since updated its blog with a postscript that situates the River Witham sword in its European context, providing further insight into the potential meaning of the inscription.
If you want to get a closer look, the sword will be on display at the British Library in the Magna Carta: Law, Liberty, Legacy exhibition at the British Library until 1 September 2015.