Ovid's and Shakespeare's Epitaphs

The words of beginning, centre and end

I. 4 WORDS

a) OVID

b) SHAKESPEARE

II. 4 WORDS + 2 texts

a) OVID

b) SHAKESPEARE and OVID

III. OSSA BONES

I. 4 WORDS

a) OVID

1. The obvious parallels between the two epitaphs can only be thought possible if Shakespeare had become entirely familiar with all gematric aspects of Ovid's epitaph. This may prove true especially of the words at the beginning, in the centre and the end of the text.

Ovid's epitaph consists of 26, Shakespeare's of 28 words. Therefore the centre is represented by two words in the positions 13+14 and 14+15.

In gematrical respect the poet had to consider the four words and the two main text parts in between the four words. He starts with the numerical sums (NS) and successively includes the factoral sums (FS) and the factoral values (FV1, FV2) of the single sums. I confine myself to as few aspects as necessary.

2. The 4values of Ovid's four words are:

	NS	FS	sm	FV1	FV2	sm	total
HIC	20	15	35	9	8	17	52
AT	20	20	40	9	9	18	58
TIBI	39	33	72	16	14	30	102
CUBENT	62	51	113	33	20	53	166
	141	119	260	67	51	118	378
40:72 = 8*(5:9) = 8*14 = 112; 112:48 = 16*(7:3)
141 = 3*47; 378 = 14*27 = 18*21

3. The function of the two central words AT TIBI is to hold the whole text together.This is achieved by several ratios dominated by the number 7. They are first possible by connecting the NS+FS and the sums of FV1+FV2. The ratio numbers 7:3 refer to 7 hexagonal and 3 corner points of the tetractys.

The ratio of 112 to the rest of the 4values is 112:266 = 14*(8:19) = 14*27. If we include the NS+FS 35 of HIC, the ratio is 147:231 = 21*(7:11) = 21*18.

4. There is a ratio between the FS and FV2 of all four words: 119:51 = 17*(7:3) = 170, which connects the frame words with the whole texts by the ratio 170:1326 = 34*(5:39) thus combining the numbers 11, 13 and 17.

5. 141 is part of Ovid's name: PUBLIUS (95) NASO (46), but it's also essential part of the gematric system: 3*47 is to be undestood as 3*(4:7) as referring to the three sides of the tetractys:

The frame of the tetractys consists of 9 points and 9 lines, together 18 elements. However, if the elements of each side consisting of 4 points + 3 lines are counted separately, the sum of three sides is 21. This is the sense of 378 = 18*21 = 27*14, which is also the sum of the numbers from 1 to 27. There is also a connection to the double rhombus with its ideal 27, but real 21 elements of 7 points, 10 lines and 4 triangular areas:

The FV of 7+10+4 are 7+7+4 = 18.

b) SHAKESPEARE

1. The 4values of Ovid's four words are:

	NS	FS	sm	FV1	FV2	sm	total
GOOD	39	29	68	16	29	45	113
YE	28	28	56	11	11	22	78
BE	7	7	14	7	7	14	28
BONES	52	37	89	17	37	54	143
	126	101	227	51	84	135	362
39:52 = 13*(3:4); 28:7 = 7*(4:1); 91:35 = 7*(13:5)

The number 7 plays an important role in Shakespeare's epitaph, too.

Independent of its numerical meaning the NS 126 is the NS+FS 74+52 of WILLIAM. The bones are what is essentially left of the dead body, and the factoral value of a number is its essential core. So BONES is identical with WILLIAM's remains. The NS+FV1 126+51 produces the NS 177 of WILLIAM (74) SHAKESPEARE (103).

The NS 126 connects the four words with the total text by the ratio 126:1116 = 18*(7:62).

2. The FS 101+FV2 84 = 185 = 5*37 make up one fourth of the 4values of Ovid's and Shakespeare's words. (see farther below)

3. The NS+FS 70 of the middle words and of their FV 36 correspond to the NS 70 and FS 36 of IESUS.

4. Most remarkable are the NS+FS of the four central words:

	NS	FS	sm	FV1	FV2	sm	tot.
AT	20	20	40	9	9	18	58
TIBI	39	33	72	16	14	30	102
sm	59	53	112	25	23	48	160
BE	28	28	56	11	11	22	78
YE	7	7	14	7	7	14	28
sm	35	35	70	18	18	36	106
tot.	94	88	182	43	41	84	266
70:112 = 14 *(5:8); 59+35 = 94

70 and 112 are the NS of IESUS CHRISTUS. Here Shakespeare obviously takes up Ovid's NS+FS 112 and completes it by his own NS+FS 70, thus expressing a religious belief: They are both in need of redemption and confidently hope for their eternal reward through Jesus Christ. In return Shakespeare adds the NS 35 to achieve the NS 94 for OVIDIUS.

The FV1+FV2 of all central words form a ratio to the NS+FS: 14*(6:13). An interesting detail is the inverted sums 160 and 106 of Ovid and Shakespeare.

II. 4 WORDS + 2 texts

a) OVID

1. The 4values are now enlarged by the two text parts:

Hic	20	15	35	9	8	17	52
text1	637	468	1105	27	23	50	1155
at	20	20	40	9	9	18	58
tibi	39	33	72	16	14	30	102
text2	718	498	1216	361	88	449	1665
cubent	62	51	113	33	20	53	166
	1496	1085	2581	455	162	617	3198
3198 = 78*41; 1665 = 45*37; 1702 = 2*23*37
1155+1665 = 2820 = 60*47

The product numbers 3*26*41 of the total result refer to 26 elements of the octahedron and to 41 elements of the cross of double rhombi and the 11, 13, 17 elements of three geometrical figures in the double rhombus and the tetractys.

2. Furthermore, Ovid accomplishes several substructures with results divisible preferably by 37 and 47, and of special interest, the total of 3values excluding the NS 1496: 1085+455+162 = 1702 = 46*37.

There are also sums divisible by 13 and 23: 468:637 = 13*(36:49), 468+498 = 966 = 42*23, 52+1155+58 = 1265 = 5*11*23.

b) SHAKESPEARE and OVID

1. The corresponding 4values of Shakespeare's epitaph are:

GOOD	39	29	68	16	29	45	113
text1	576	458	1034	18	231	249	1283
BE	7	7	14	7	7	14	28
YE	28	28	56	11	11	22	78
text2	540	412	952	18	107	125	1077
BONES	52	37	89	17	37	54	143
	1242	971	2213	87	422	509	2722
576:540 = 36*(16:15) = 36*31
971+87+422 = 1480 = 40*37

What strikes they eye at once is the high common factor 36 of the two text parts.

2. Most astonishing is that Shakespeare, like Ovid, determines a 3value-sum divisible by 37. This allows the confident conclusion that Shakespeare had studied Ovid's epitaph most carefully.

As the joint NS of both epitaphs is divisible by 74, the ratio of the NS towards the other 3values is 74*(37:23:20) = 74*(37:43) = 74*80 = FV 39+13 = 52.

3. It's also by Shakespeare's incomparable genius that the 4values of the 8 frame words are divisible by 74: 378+362 = 740. This result produces the ratio 740*(1:7) to the rest of the text.

III. OSSA BONES

1. Examining the words of both epitaphs, we can find no parallels except one very obvious one: OSSA and BONES. In Ovid's epitaph it is the last but one, in Shakespeare's the last word at all. Shakespeare may have been a persistent adherent to the "old faith" but he was certainly an English patriot. If he aspired to unite the Heathen and Christian traditions, as gematrical evidence has hitherto strongly suggested, he will have carefully examined the properties of the only words he has in common with Ovid: The 4values of the two words are presented in two combinations:

	NS	FS	sm	FV1	FV2	sm	tot.
OSSA	51	26	77	20	15	35	112
BONES	52	37	89	17	37	54	143
sm	103	63	166	37	52	89	255
35:77 = 7*(5:11); 255 = 15*17

	NS	FV1	sm	FS	FV2	sm	tot.
OSSA	51	20	71	26	15	41	112
BONES	52	17	69	37	37	74	143
sm	103	37	140	63	52	115	255
115:140 = 5*(23:28)

If we assume that successive numbers are constituted by their mean values, the NS 103 is formed by the bordering number 51+52. 103 however is the NS of SHAKESPEARE. This may be a first encouragement to him to be the poet of two cultures.

The NS+FV1 of each word, 71+69, too, are constitutive for their sum 140.

The NS+FS 52+37 of BONES are repeated by the sums of FV1 and FV2.

2. The FS 63 is also a strong symbol for two ways of religious thinking, it's the NS of VESTA and YIOS, the Roman goddess of the gematrical system and Jesus Christ, the son of God. The number is composed of 26+37, which represents the successive addition of 7+19+37 tetractys elements, beginning from the first level of triangles:

3. The letters that correspond to the factors 15*17 of 4value sum 255 are PR occupying the inner corners of the SATOR square:

The NS of the letters PER and NET is 37, together 74. If the E is counted only once, the sum is 69, the same as for SATOR. SATOR PERNET means the creator weaves (his works) permanently. Of course, we cannot say whether Shakespeare knew about this, but he might.

4. The 4value sum 112 = 16*7 of OSSA is also the NS+FS of AT TIBI, the central words of Ovid's epitaph. As single digits the factors 7*16 refer to the double circle of the hexagram 7 hexagonal points, a second centre point and 6 points on the outer circular line. The single digits of 112 represent the area of the inner circle and the area of the inner circle and the outer area ring:

The area ratio 1:3 of the two areas is a symbol for the trinitarian God which was part of the VESTA doctrine. So Ovid feels certain that his soul and body do not cease to exist after death, but are preserved by God in eternity.

For just the same reason Shakespeare may have chosen the NS+FV 52+17 = 69 of BONES for the NS 1242 = 18*69 of his epitaph. 52 and 69 are the NS of OPERA and SATOR.

5. It might be useful to present the 4values of Ovid's last sentence:

Nasonis	86	58	144	45	31	76	220
molliter	98	85	183	16	22	38	221
ossa	51	26	77	20	15	35	112
cubent	62	51	113	33	20	53	166
	297	220	517	114	88	202	719
220:297 = 11*(20:27)

The single digits of the ratio numbers 20:27 refer to a model I have so far not yet shown:

The graphic shows the double aspect of 5 diametrical elements and 2*3 radial elements that lead to the combination of 4 radial lines and 7 points.

The 4values sum 719 is prime. The 1 adds a second central point to the 9 diametrical elements of the hexagram and the 7 points of the double rhombus. Shakespeare curiously determined the prime number 971 for the FS of his epitaph. Perhaps he did so in answer to Ovid's construction in order to transfer Ovid's wish for undisturbed rest also to himself.

Written: May 2014

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