The Voynich Ninja

I am not an arrogant person. I simply have my own ideas about what the Voynich is. With a subject as challenging as this codex, we cannot simply persist with old ideas that have led nowhere.

At first glance, there appear to be women bathing in Quire 13, while others see human organs. But when I place those images in the context of everything else I see in the codex, I begin to grow suspicious—because I am familiar with the metaphorical language of medieval imagery. The only reliable basis for interpreting Quire 13 is the zodiacal section, because that is where we see those same female figures. These figures hold stars, and some are inside tubes. These details alone should prompt reflection. Furthermore, those figures occupy the 30 degrees of each zodiac sign, and the only medieval images resembling this are the astrological diagrams of King Alfonso X. (I recommend checking out the thread eggyk started on this topic).

Regarding the Rosettes foldout, I have frequently explained—citing specific reasons—that it represents the medieval universe, displaying the spheres that typically appear as concentric circles in other medieval manuscripts.Everything you call waves and bridges is a representation of how those spheres communicate and transmit their astral influence to Earth—the sphere located at the top right.

You haven't said anything about the tubes visible on the central sphere—the one representing the fixed stars—and on another of the spheres. In fact, the author has suggested that there are tubes on all the spheres, as they serve as the channels through which astral influence is transmitted. These tubes are the same ones seen in the zodiacal section and in Quire 13, where female figures appear with their hands and feet inserted into them.

Antonio Wrote:These figures hold stars, and some are inside tubes.

There are examples where stars appear without nymphs, and nymphs without stars. 
Moreover, the tubes in Balneology and the barrels/basins/pedestals in the Zodiac are different from each other.
[attachment=17198]
f83r. The example is good because the nymph here is sitting directly in the tubes, so this image is suitable for comparison. But let’s compare it with the Zodiac...
[attachment=17199]
These tubes look more like those from Rosettes, but they definitely aren’t related to balneology.

Antonio Wrote:Everything you call waves and bridges is a representation of how those spheres communicate and transmit their astral influence to Earth—the sphere located at the top right.

First of all, I’ve heard very little about how the concept of the astral plane was perceived in the Middle Ages, so I can’t say anything about that
Secondly, I don’t quite understand the allegories. Secondly, I don’t quite understand the allegories. 12 is a bridge, or rather, a cliff. Here, everything is more or less clear.
But 13 is a watchtower (although it looks more like some kind of compass; judging by the overall appearance of the structure and the “circles” at the corners of this bridge, I call it a tower). So, are there astral guards there, allowing only permitted astral travel? Or are there astral guides there, showing the astral traveler which astral worlds they can move to?

Antonio Wrote:You haven't said anything about the tubes visible on the central sphere—the one representing the fixed stars—and on another of the spheres.

First, here is the most obvious image of the celestial sphere with attached stars, which you didn’t comment on and which, as I remember, wasn’t in your thread (but I could be wrong):
[attachment=17200]
I see the blue celestial sphere, I see the attached stars.

Secondly, there are tubes not only in the Central Sphere, but also in the Northwestern Sphere — in terms of its overall appearance, it is quite similar to the Central Island. The pipe from it is directed towards the Central Sphere. There are no more tubes there. No one is sitting there, and nothing comes out of them.

"But 13 is a watchtower (although it looks more like some kind of compass; judging by the overall appearance of the structure and the “circles” at the corners of this bridge, I call it a tower). So, are there astral guards there, allowing only permitted astral travel? Or are there astral guides there, showing the astral traveler which astral worlds they can move to?"

ololololo, I don't understand anything. You must have watched a lot of science fiction movies.

Why don't you read something about medieval iconography that would help you understand?

Okay, I'll rephrase that.
[attachment=17229]
What is this, and why does it look like this?

If I may offer an alternative interpretation of this image: in my opinion, it is the planetary pentacle of Venus. There are several such pentacles and talismans in the VMS.

Another alternative is this protective talisman based on the book *Shams al-Ma'arif*. However, it is also a protective magical diagram.

Focusing on the smallest details of The Rosetes foldout is like missing the forest for the trees. What matters is a general understanding of the entire foldout, knowing that there are details that might escape our notice.

In 2019, MarcoP started a thread compiling the ideas about the Rosettes that Ellie Velinska had written about on her blog years earlier. It was the most significant contribution to date regarding this mysterious foldout. You can view it in the "Under the big tent" thread. Some—myself included—suspected even then that it all must hold some cosmic significance, given that several of the Rosette circles indeed resembled canopies or tents when viewed from above, and their most likely meaning was metaphorical.

My view is that they represent celestial domes, standing in for each of the spheres of the medieval universe. Indeed, we see nine circles: the one representing Earth, where the castle is located; seven representing the planets (including the Sun and the Moon, as they were considered planets in the Middle Ages); and the central circle of the fixed stars. It is not an astronomical representation featuring concentric circles—as seen in other medieval manuscripts—but rather an astrological one. Consequently, we see the sphere of the fixed stars at the center, with the interaction of all the spheres extending to Earth, illustrating how astral influence is transmitted. This concept of astral influence affecting all terrestrial beings is fundamental to medieval thought.

The tubes we see serve to channel that influence. They are drawn on the central sphere and the one at the top left, but the implication is that they are present on all of them. Asterisk-shaped stars appear throughout the Rosettes foldout, reinforcing the cosmic theme. And one of the most important details: the luxurious vessels seen on the central sphere—some identical to those in the pharmaceutical section—which symbolize the virtues that the stars bestow upon medicinal herbs.

(18-08-2026, 09:36 AM)Antonio García Jiménez Wrote: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.Focusing on the smallest details of The Rosetes foldout is like missing the forest for the trees. What matters is a general understanding of the entire foldout, knowing that there are details that might escape our notice.

    In 2019, MarcoP started a thread compiling the ideas about the Rosettes that Ellie Velinska had written about on her blog years earlier. It was the most significant contribution to date regarding this mysterious foldout. You can view it in the "Under the big tent" thread. Some—myself included—suspected even then that it all must hold some cosmic significance, given that several of the Rosette circles indeed resembled canopies or tents when viewed from above, and their most likely meaning was metaphorical.

  My view is that they represent celestial domes, standing in for each of the spheres of the medieval universe. Indeed, we see nine circles: the one representing Earth, where the castle is located; seven representing the planets (including the Sun and the Moon, as they were considered planets in the Middle Ages); and the central circle of the fixed stars. It is not an astronomical representation featuring concentric circles—as seen in other medieval manuscripts—but rather an astrological one. Consequently, we see the sphere of the fixed stars at the center, with the interaction of all the spheres extending to Earth, illustrating how astral influence is transmitted. This concept of astral influence affecting all terrestrial beings is fundamental to medieval thought.

    The tubes we see serve to channel that influence. They are drawn on the central sphere and the one at the top left, but the implication is that they are present on all of them. Asterisk-shaped stars appear throughout the Rosettes foldout, reinforcing the cosmic theme. And one of the most important details: the luxurious vessels seen on the central sphere—some identical to those in the pharmaceutical section—which symbolize the virtues that the stars bestow upon medicinal herbs.

I agree with you that the folding folio with rosettes is a cosmological model of the universe. Does everyone agree?

(18-08-2026, 12:25 PM)Radim Dobeš Wrote: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.I agree with you that the folding folio with rosettes is a cosmological model of the universe. Does everyone agree?

The answer to the question  "[something about the Voynich Manuscript], does everyone agree?" is always "no". 
If you're lucky, you'll get a "yes" on "does anyone agree?"

I'll say no, anyway. I don't know what it is.