This is supposed to represent the dragon taking down a third of all the stars in the sky, which probably means that the number seven can be arbitrary. *horror vacui intensifies*
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You do realise this is Apocalypsis b. Ioh 12?
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What I mean is that when we see seven stars in the VM, we assume the number is meaningful. Similarly, if we see this dragon grasping seven stars that are set aside from the rest, we might assume the number is meaningful. Turns out the number seven is just arbitrary in this case.
(If it is not arbitrary, the reason why they drew seven stars may be relevant for those in the VM).
(06-03-2022, 11:33 AM)Scarecrow Wrote: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.Dome of creation
Is this source correct ?
Cupola of the Creation or Genesis, by Unknown, 13th Century, mosaic. Italy, Veneto, Venice, St Mark's Basilica, West narthex.
Dome of creation, cupola of genesis.
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Examples of Alchemical Cosmos
You would be surprised at how recent some of those things are.
While part of the VM imagery certainly has an alchemical feel to it, comparison to alchemy suffers from two issues:
1. It is hard to find much from around the time of the VM. If you see something from an alchemical MS that reminds you of the VM, chances are that you are looking at a later work.
2. Specialists have pointed out that they don't see the VM belonging to any known traditions of alchemy.
That said, I completely understand why the comparison is so appealing. One partial explanation may be that alchemy drew on the same traditions the VM took inspiration from, like astronomy and various kinds of tetradic diagrams.
Yes you are right of course Koen, and no, I do not see any relation of VMS with alchemy, not even with astronomy, but I'd be happy to be proven wrong anytime soon.
What I am following up is to understand any kind of influence, context and experience the five writers of VMS may have had. What they have seen, read, studied. Symbols, drawings, diagram layouts and styles, colors, structure.. and while doing that I am also trying to find if VMS has influenced later manuscripts, arts or documents of any kind. Source of inspiration->own production->latter source influence/inspiration. Maybe from this it might be possible to map where the sphere of influence is.
While it may also be purely coincidental, just for example, some symbols from Arabic alchemy books seem familiar, some diagrams like the ones up, do have familiar diagram structures (like rosettes), connected dots and so on. I am looking these coincidences just to get an idea what may have influenced what, where and how, just from visual side, nothing to do with content, whatever it might be. The writers of VMS have borrowed visual styles, not subject(s).
Do they look similar for anyone else than me?