Manuscript 512: One of the Greatest Mysteries of Brazilian Culture
We have already published here in Mega Curioso articles about mysterious books and documents that even today intrigue researchers around the world, such as the Devil's Bible and the famous Voynich Manuscript, whose content and authorship no one has yet been able to decipher. However, we don't have to go far to find such a document, because right here in Brazil there is a super intriguing example!
This is Manuscript 512, which today is part of the collection of the National Library of Rio de Janeiro. No one knows whose authorship the document is, but it corresponds to one of the greatest archaeological mysteries of our country. The material gives the account of a group of Girl Scouts who would have discovered in the 18th century the mysterious ruins of an unknown city lost in the interior of Bahia.
Bandeirante Expedition
The manuscript was found by chance in the 19th century at the then Library of the Court - which today is the National Library - and describes in detail the city found by the bandeirantes, who left São Paulo for an expedition to the backlands of Bahia. In it, the author reports that the group would have come across a brilliant mountain full of crystals that, besides attracting the attention of men, caused a lot of wonder and admiration.
The report goes on to say that, upon reaching the top of the mountain, the Girl Scouts would have spotted a large city, which could only be accessed through a single ornate entrance with three arches bearing indecipherable inscriptions. The site also had different architectural features from the style of the time, as well as some oddities, such as the fact that it is completely abandoned and some parts destroyed.
In addition, the buildings - mostly with more than one floor - were completely empty, and there was no trace of recent human occupation. The author of the manuscript still describes a square where there was a statue of a man standing on a black column - with his body stripped to the waist and a laurel wreath on his head - pointing north.
Ancient civilization?
The buildings near the square would be huge and would have strange relief figures like crows and crosses, and a river that ran through the place led to a waterfall. There the group would have found countless graves with curious inscriptions, and a mysterious gold coin.
The object - evidently of unknown origin - would also carry a series of emblems engraved across the surface, as well as a boy kneeling on one side and images of a crown, a bow and an arrow engraved on the other. The author of the manuscript even compiled some of the inscriptions he found around the city, as you can see in the following image.
Mystery and speculation
The manuscript is believed to have been produced when the group went ahead with the expedition, sending the document to Rio de Janeiro addressed to the appropriate authorities. However, as with all self-respecting mystery, the identity of the bandeirantes was lost, and the location of the supposed city was never discovered.
Of course, the document eventually attracted the attention of renowned researchers, and one hypothesis is that the city was built by former Vikings over a thousand years ago. Another theory is that the buildings would have similarities to Ethiopian buildings of the Middle Ages, and the inscriptions would be in "gueez", an ancient language of this people. However, some also believe that the texts are from the Ptolemaic Greek, a demotic form of the Egyptian.
Despite so many theories and various searches for the lost city, the fact is that Manuscript 512 is still one of the greatest mysteries of Brazilian culture - and may never be deciphered. Access to the document, which is well deteriorated, is quite restricted. But luckily, a digital version - which you can check through this link - was made available by the National Library. And you, reader, what do you think of this intriguing material?
* Posted on 27/09/2013
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