Hildegard's mysterious language & letters

In the mid-12th century, a German nun named Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) penned a letter to Pope Anastasius IV (1073-1154). Her words were sharp and critical.

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She accused the pope of being too lenient with corrupt individuals and urged him to address the moral decay within the medieval church. Amidst her many complaints, Hildegard included a reference to one of the greatest mysteries of her life: she had witnessed a miracle that led her to create the Unknown Letters and speak an Unknown Language (lingua ignota and litterae ignotae in Latin). These mysterious creations remain little understood today, and scholars continue to debate their purpose.

Visions of Hildegard

Hildegard of Bingen was one of the greatest thinkers of the Middle Ages, best known for her beautiful musical compositions and visionary writings. Born in 1098, she was sent to become a religious recluse at the age of 14. At 42, she saw a great light descend from the sky, enabling her to better understand the Bible and the writings of saints. A voice told her to write down everything she had seen and heard in her visions, leading to the creation of her masterpiece, Scivias, which took her ten years to complete. Her work caught the attention of Pope Eugene III, who gave her papal approval to continue writing.

Creation of unknown language and letters