"It was a favourite form of heraldic expression used in the Middle Ages to denote surnames. For example, in its basic form, three salmon (fish) are used to denote the surname "Salmon". A more sophisticated example was the rebus of Bishop Walter Lyhart (d. 1472) of Norwich, consisting of a stag (or hart) lying down in a conventional representation of water. The composition alludes to the name, profession or personal characteristics of the bearer, and speaks to the beholder Non verbis, sed rebus, which Latin expression signifies "not by words but by things" (res, rei (f), a thing, object, matter; rebus being ablative plural)."
Found at the Rebus subreddit, where there are lots more rebuses to tackle.
I got 9 of those. Here are my answers in ROT13, to limit spoilers. https://rot13.com/
ReplyDelete1. Xrl-gbr => Dhvgb, Rphnqbe
2. Xbnyn-yhzc-E => Xhnyn Yhzche, Znynlfvn
3. Onat-pbpx => Onatxbx, Gunvynaq.
4. I don't even know what those things are
5. Obbx-neerfg => Ohpunerfg, Ebznavn
6. IDK
1. (Gur Terng) Jne-fnj => Jnefnj, Cbynaq
2. Pne-ohyy => Xnohy, Nstunavfgna
3. IDK
4. Orne-ebbg => Orvehg, Yronaba
5. Cbeg-Zbefr(pbqr)-orr => Cbeg Zberfol, Cnchn Arj Thvarn
6. Png-zna-qb => Xnguznaqh, Arcny
Well done. I couldn't figure out (rot13) xnohy, but I did get that 4 is: Oehffryf (fcebhgf).
DeleteMy wife is convinced that 6 is Nicosia with some very british "ers" - nickers-ear.
By that logic, maybe 3 on the second page is Ottawa - otter-r...
For 4. on the first page, my guess is Oehffry fcehgf => Oehffryf. I'm also stumped by the two remaining ones.
DeleteIn heraldry these are also called canting arms
ReplyDeleteNew word for me. Thank you.
DeleteI'm having #4 for supper tonight...
ReplyDeleteIBM was big on a particular rebus. They have an entire set of web pages dedicated to the IBM rebus. Corporate tchotchkes often feature the rebus even today. (I tried to insert an image but could not conjure the appropriate magic - see the following link ----)
ReplyDeletehttps://www.ibm.com/design/language/ibm-logos/rebus/
The 'eye' looks like it was lifted from the CBS logo? Cool IBM corporate identity page!
DeleteThe artist is Simon Drew. There are several more of these (and other visual plays on words) at his site https://www.simondreworiginals.co.uk/originals
ReplyDeleteThank you. And a good name for an artist (perhaps an example of nominative determinism).
Delete