Embark on a thrilling quest through the Vatican in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle as you hunt down and photograph all the mysterious Strange Inscriptions scattered across iconic locations like the Belvedere Courtyard and Via di Belvedere. Each inscription holds a secret, challenging you to master the art of framing the perfect shot under pressure, while sneaking past patrolling enemies and scaling rooftops. Ready your camera and whip-these hidden markings are the key to unlocking the game’s deepest mysteries.
How to take photos of Strange Inscriptions
To take photos of Strange Inscriptions in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, first equip your camera by pressing up on the D-pad when you see the camera icon appear in the top left corner of your screen. Hold the left trigger to bring the camera into focus and use the zoom to align the inscription perfectly within the frame, ensuring the entire design is visible. The game requires precise framing, so you may need to adjust your distance and zoom multiple times until the inscription is correctly captured. Locations for these inscriptions include areas like the Belvedere Courtyard and its balcony, where climbing and careful positioning are often necessary. Successfully photographing these inscriptions is essential for progressing in the quest and unlocking additional content.
Finding the inscriptions scattered around the Vatican is one thing, but actually getting the picture Indy wants is a whole other challenge.
When you get close to an inscription (or any photo-worthy scene), you’ll see a camera icon pop up in the upper left corner of your screen. Pressing up on the D-pad equips your camera, and then holding the left trigger brings it to your eye.
From there, you just have to frame the photo the way the game wants. Luckily, you’ve got a guide. Unluckily, the game doesn’t explain that guide.
When you’re looking through the viewfinder, you’ll see two sets of brackets: one thin and solid white, and the other fuzzy. Your goal is to get them both lined up.
If the fuzzy brackets are inside of the solid ones, that means your subject is too small and you need to either get closer or zoom in. If they’re outside, that means the subject is too big and you need to back up or zoom out.
Once you get the brackets aligned, you’ll get a take picture prompt on the screen.
Where to find the Strange Inscriptions
In Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Strange Inscriptions are scattered throughout the Vatican, primarily found in key locations such as the Belvedere Courtyard and its surrounding areas. Players will encounter inscriptions in places like the small garden near the Via di Belvedere, above a fountain in the Belvedere Courtyard, and on balconies accessible by climbing scaffolding in the same courtyard. Additional inscriptions can be found in more hidden or challenging spots, including the Excavation Site, sewers, and rooftop alcoves. To photograph these inscriptions correctly, players must use their camera to frame the entire design, sometimes requiring zoom adjustments and careful positioning to capture the perfect shot. These inscriptions are integral to quests such as “The Stolen Cat Mummy” and “The Secret of Giants,” and photographing all of them unlocks achievements and rewards.
With the camera in hand, Indy’s map will change to include the rough locations of all four of the strange inscriptions you’re looking for. The numbers in the image above correspond to the descriptions below.
Strange Inscription 1 location
Once you buy the camera from Ernesto, leave the post office and take a right. Follow the road through the big doors to the next courtyard.
Head through the second door on the right – it’s got a gate you can push through. Inside, you’ll see some hedges that are being trimmed.
Head all the way to the back of this area and look to the right to find the first Strange Inscription.
Strange Inscription 2 location
Head back out of the hedge area and take a right (heading west). Go through the doors to return to Belvedere Courtyard. Straight ahead of you, there’ll be a fountain. Loop around to the right side of the fountain to find the next Strange Inscription.
In our experience, this one is the trickiest to get framed correctly. You’ll probably have to zoom way in, and then take a couple of steps back to get it lined up.
Strange Inscription 3 location
From the fountain, head to the south end of Belvedere Courtyard. The Blackshirts are building a stage of some sort there. Head to the right side of the stage and sneak around to the back.
Use your whip to climb to the top of the scaffolding.
When you reach the balcony, turn to the right and follow it over to find Strange Inscription 3.
Strange Inscription 4 location
Turn around from Strange Inscription 3 and head to the far side of the balcony. There’s a Blackguard to deal with – if he’s sitting on the railing, you can always just click the right thumbstick to push him off (it’s super satisfying). Use your whip to climb the scaffolding.
At the top, turn to the right to find an open window. Hop into the hallway there – this is where you’ll find the “House of God” mystery – and continue out a window on the other side.
This will bring you to the Borgia Courtyards. Turn right to find more scaffolding to climb.
Climb that, and the final Strange Inscription will be a little to the left.
For more Indiana Jones and the Great Circle guides, here’s a running list of safe codes. We also have solutions for many puzzles in the Vatican, including the Belvedere Courtyard, Sacred Wounds, Fountain of Confession, “Secret of Secrets,” “Father and Son,” “A Date to Remember,” “Bulls of Blood,” “House of God,” and “A Free Spirit,” plus a guide to all Vatican Ancient Relic locations.
What secrets do the Strange Inscriptions reveal about Indiana Jones’s adventures in Vatican
The Strange Inscriptions in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle reveal a hidden layer of Vatican history tied to the mysterious Father Crescenzo, whose obsession with these cryptic markings uncovers secrets beneath the city. As Indiana Jones photographs these inscriptions scattered across fountains and hidden spots throughout the Vatican, he helps Father Antonio piece together a secret entrance under the Tower of Nicholas V and unravels the mystery of the missing Father Crescenzo. Collecting all ten inscriptions not only advances the main story but also unlocks additional lore, rewards, and a deeper understanding of the Vatican’s ancient secrets and hidden relics, enriching Jones’s adventure with a blend of historical intrigue and supernatural mystery.
What hidden messages or symbols do the Strange Inscriptions contain about Vatican secrets
The Strange Inscriptions in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle contain hidden messages and symbols that hint at profound Vatican secrets, including references to a mysterious order known as the Nephilim Order. These inscriptions are believed to encode clues about ancient, possibly supernatural forces intertwined with Vatican history, suggesting connections to secret societies and forgotten knowledge concealed beneath the city. The inscriptions evoke themes common in real-world Vatican mysteries, such as hidden symbols in art and architecture, secret archives, and esoteric knowledge guarded by the Church. This aligns with broader theories about the Vatican housing cryptic messages related to ancient religious traditions, mystical societies like the Knights Templar, and even occult symbolism embedded in its artworks and architecture.
