In the words of Seneca, Errare humanum est. The Roman dramatist and philosopher might have added that while to err is human, it is particularly likely among tattoo artists who try to bluff while inscribing Latin.
The dead language has had a renaissance in tattoo parlours as people seek to emulate celebrities such as David Beckham and Angelina Jolie, but the yearning for classical language has come at a cost.
David Butterfield, director of studies in classics at Queens’ College, Cambridge, was delighted when he first noticed that Latin had become the lingua franca of skin decoration. He offered a translation service and supplemented his salary by charging small fees. However, he will announce in the next edition of Spectator Life magazine that he