Discovered by British archaeologist T. Bloch and others in what is now north Chhattisgarh, this is an inscription in the Jogimara cave. It is in Brahmi script, Magadhi language. The upper version is a paper ink impression and was published in 1906, then republished in 1914. The lower version is a photograph of exactly the same inscription.
This is a notable and controversial inscription. Scholars agree that this inscription is from about the 2nd-century BCE (estimates range between 3rd and 1st century BCE) because it uses Brahmi, and Magadhi is older than Pali language of Buddhist canons. The inscription is non-religious and non-political, unrelated to any king or dynasty. It is about a girl and a boy, and their pursuit of arts.
The controversy comes from a few eroded parts. Depending on how one interpolates and interprets, the translation comes out to either (1) a love-graffiti, where the girl and the boy declare in ancient writing that they are lovers, or (2) an art-note, where a boy who is a sculpture-painter helps a girl who is a dancer to carve and create a cave theatre and another cave for other girls to use as a dressing room.

The upper portion is a photograph of the 2-D print of this inscription published in the Annual Report of the Archaeological Survey of India 1903–1904. Since this 2-D image was published in an early 20th-century by T. Bloch, the PD-Art guidelines of wikimedia commons apply. Any rights I have, I herewith donate it to the public domain (CC0) through wikimedia commons.

Theatre / CinemaEvents & Culture

The Cave

📷 Photo by Ms Sarah Welch · Public Domain · Wikimedia Commons

The Cave is Withington's intimate arts venue, serving the village as both a cinema and theatre.

You can catch anything from recent film releases to independent productions, or settle in for live entertainment ranging from music and comedy to local theatre productions. The name reflects the space's distinctive character and underground feel. It's the kind of community facility that lets you enjoy cultural events without needing to travel elsewhere, providing a relaxed atmosphere perfect for an evening out.

Withington itself is a smaller village in central Cotswolds, so The Cave becomes a real focal point for local entertainment. If you're after more extensive shopping, dining, or cultural options, Cirencester is just a short drive south, and Cheltenham, famous for its Regency architecture and its festival calendar, sits to the west. The venue works particularly well as a stop if you're exploring the quieter rural lanes of the region and want to experience something of local life. It's worth checking their schedule ahead of your visit to see what's on when you're in the area.