The Voynich Ninja

As a symbol for Francis I, the salamander, whatever its appearance, is quite consistently depicted with flames and a crown. Since the VMs illustration appears to lack both, this would seem to negate the comparison.

Google image search: salamander Francis

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(16-10-2020, 07:58 AM)ReneZ Wrote: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.My guess FWIW is a tongue, and it is supposed to be some kind of lizard.

I was not thinking of a salamander.
There aren't so many lizard drawings in bestiaries, but there are a few, also with a pointed tongue.

I was reminded of Shakespeare....

2nd Witch:
"Eye of newt, and toe of frog,
Wool of bat, and tongue of dog,
Adder's fork, and blind-worm's sting,
Lizard's leg, and howlet's wing,--
For a charm of powerful trouble,
Like a hell-broth boil and bubble."


It's commonly understood that the ingredients are actually plants (eye of new t being mustard seeds, for example) so maybe the amphibians are nothing more than the code for the surrounding plants. 

Anybody know what the surrounding plants are? 

Right of the frog ?
I think it is the same plant as f32v.
I think it could be a "Akelei". But here I am anything but sure.


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Here an example like in Rene`s opening post ( first example, Munich CLM 28531 ). This position of a frog seems to occur more often. It`s  name is also rana.

British Library, Sloane 4016, c. 1440, You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.



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This manuscript is classified by Baumann as one of the 'North Italian group' and as a copy of Paris, Bibliothèque de l'Ecole des Beaux-Arts, MS Masson 116. 

So you will most likely see a frog here (but I can't find it right now).



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(22-10-2020, 12:06 PM)bi3mw Wrote: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.So you will most likely see a frog here (but I can't find it right now).

Hi, bi3mw:

It's folio150r.

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[attachment=4919]

This is the only frog I could find in a "materia medica" ( Dioscorides ). It is shown in a different perspective (side view) and there is no plant on this folio. - The Frog is inscribed as "phrynos he batrachos" ( whatever that means ).
The section is about the power of strong drugs to help or harm (  fols. 306r-319v ).

The Morgan library & Museum,Constantinople, mid 10th century,
De materia medica, You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.
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phryn, phryno,phrunos - Greek toad
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(ha-) The You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view., used to express union or likenes
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batraxos - greek frog
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[attachment=4921]