The Voynich Ninja

Not every thread needs to be about Melusine, guys. Please stay on topic.

@ R. Sale

I don't think you or someone else of the great cryptographers has ever taken the trouble of following up the herbal texts of a single plant, could it be a language problem?

Of course these texts are not identical with the VMs - texts or a block paradigm whatever that may be, he had his own approach, it is a bad prejudiice to say that medieval science is only repeating itself

And to tell you my personal opinion: most of these socalled theories, Melusine, Golden Fleece and so on are just phantasmata based on nothing

So, what is the purpose of the plant ID's? Just to make a list? To discuss the pros and cons of proposed, but conflicting identifications? How do plant ID's promote the understanding of the VMs, other than the fact that we have compiled a listing of probable plant depictions? Look at the funny violets. Okay, look. Now what? 

Apparently, those who created the VMs were of a sort not inclined to reproduce the wisdom of authoritative sources, but adventurously wandered off with their own dissertations. No kidding?!

It has been suggested that VMs plants are fantasy plants, imaginary images. And yet we have a list. One might suggest that elements of reality and fantasy have been blended in the VMs illustrations, with some representations more realistic and others less so. If the efforts to find correspondence in the written texts cannot be validated in the best of the plant ID's, then what is the reason to investigate the illustrations that are even more ambiguous? 

The historical ID's are not based on nothing. They are based on cultural history. They are proposed identifications from various investigators. The historical ID's proposed are coherent, interconnected, and relevant to a particular period of history, and to a time compatible with the C-14 dates. The list of plant ID's makes no such connection.

"Look at the funny violets. Okay, look. Now what?"

Now one is looking for the accompanying text of exactly this plant in various medical books. Now examine this text among themselves and look for similarities.
The more often a match appears, the higher the possibility that it occurs in the VM text.
With this, I may not be able to solve the riddle of the VM, but it gives the possibility to better understand the text and how it is structured. Maybe there is a feature that only this plant has and a word that only occurs once in the VM and that is right there.
Such hits would be wonderful.

I'll give you an example of exactly this plant.

[attachment=6746]

I'll take the first word right away. It's perfect, so to speak.
It is short and contains the suffix "8g". (8y).
To look at it from the perspective of the ending, there is a high probability of "tum and tus".
Before that, there is something that looks like an "a". Let's just take it for a moment.  (atum / atus).
Since the first resembles a "p", this would result in a (patum / patus). 
Hmmmmmmmmmmmm, I don't know, but "batum" would work. But it only occurs 2x in the VM.
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So what does "batum" mean?
I was more puzzled
[attachment=6747]

In German it also means blackberry. Interestingly, in Greek it's almost the same.


[attachment=6748]

Actually, the blackberry is one of the classical remedies. The old practical use says that it should only be harvested in March.
This is because when the plant concentrates on the berries, it loses its power. Therefore, only harvest while the blossoms are still closed.

For this reason, a list of the most likely plants is not only necessary but already mandatory.
Whether this is true or not is secondary. But it tells me that a correct text is more than possible.

Just to browse through.
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ll these plant IDs seem to me to be pure accidental optimism. The creator(s?) of the VMS went great lengths to conceal the meaning and context of the MS, without anything really identifiable, playing with some realism but just enough to keep it secret, I don't see any reason why they would have broken that rule with the plants. I feel that they knew what they were doing, they knew plants well and thus were able to create kind of plants (with the distinct VMS alternative style) for further concealment (or to make the possibe researchers go mad) or mm.. just for fun for the great reason of "because I can".

Plant IDing can be great sport and fun activity, but IMHO it will conclude anything as VMS plants are just "kind of plants".
But I hope to be wrong. 


Sorry for the negative impression.

@Scarecrow
So for you the viola is just a coincidence and the castor bean only looks like that because it is beautiful?
Your theory is flawed.
There are already too many to simply dismiss it like that.

[attachment=6749]

Maybe it's just that nature has too much imagination and we have too little.

@ Aga, was hältst Du davon?

(12-08-2022, 07:21 AM)Aga Tentakulus Wrote: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.@Scarecrow
So for you the viola is just a coincidence and the castor bean only looks like that because it is beautiful?
Your theory is flawed.
There are already too many to simply dismiss it like that.

It is just my opinion, not a theory. 
Yes, plants may look close enough, but usually never enough, because probably as intentional misleading.
I cannot imagine any reason why the creators of the VMS would have left plants as straight clues as an open door for the breakers, when they have done so careful job to try conceal and protect the VMS. Maybe the drawings do have a meaning to the creators and the intended audience, but I believe they are just mixture of reality but bear no single reality.