A devilish letter written by a 17th-century nun has finally been translated.
Sister Maria Crocifissa della Concezione, a 31-year-old nun at the convent of Palma di Montechiaro in Sicily, was believed to be possessed when she wrote the letter. On August 11, 1676, she was discovered on the floor of her cell with her face smeared with ink, clutching a letter filled with a strange mix of symbols and letters. Historical accounts suggest that Sister Maria claimed the letter was from the devil, attempting to turn her away from God and towards evil.
The 14-line message had puzzled scholars for centuries. However, recent advancements have led to significant breakthroughs in its translation.
Daniele Abate, director of Ludum, told Live Science, “When working on historical decryption, you cannot ignore the psychological profile of the writer. We needed to know as much as possible about this nun.”