The Voynich Ninja

Full Version: 15thc perception on swallowtail merlons?
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I like this shot of Sabbionara.

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I wonder what the view is like from the little clearing up on the hill behind the castle.

The architecture comes first, then the representation - whether that is artistic or heraldic.

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There are several terms for this pattern, but none in English. The Italian description, 'merlato alla ghibellina', turns out to be useful in finding various, familial, heraldic blazons. Marco's library reference to Italian armorial insignia shows the distinct presence of swallowtail merlons on various sorts of architectural structures: walls, towers, etc. They were clearly used to mark a distinction.

German heraldic examples are more uncommon, so far. They are also more artistically abstract, like a standard embattled pattern, but with the swallowtail merlons rather than the square ones. But again, this is purportedly a valid and real historical choice, someone's armorial heraldry - though obviously *not* all heraldry is historically valid.

Haven't seen a Ghibelline merlon in a French or English source, which shows how much heraldry was influenced by the local history.

In the 15th Century, the main perception is the architecture. But buildings might remain for centuries. And it is also the location. Swallowtail merlons would be known to any person who had traveled through the area. And then there is the matter of involvement with the artist's personal history. The swallowtail merlons in the VMs are a marker, but still this marker covers a lot of ground and many possibilities. One possibility involves the Valois connection to the Visconti of Milan. It is one data point in a growing set that coincides with other investigations involving Valois Burgundy in the 1430s (the Golden Fleece, Melusine, etc.) The VMs, though disguised by rough artistry, historically 'forgotten' events and intentional ambiguity, is still reflective of a reality that fits in the C-14 dates.
[attachment=5811]@R.Sale
You write:
German heraldic examples are so far
rare.
From today's point of view according to the national borders you are right. There are none.
But what about the language and how was it 600 years ago? Here the southernmost line is at Padua / Ravenna. Now the battlements in the German-speaking area are not so rare.

The oldest in Germany/Bavaria are the two fingers (1502). As far as one can call them battlements.
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Thanks for all the research you put in, Marco, I added Barcelona as well.

Does the map thing work well? It's the first time I use this function. I tried embedding it in the forum but this doesn't seem to work.
There are heraldic examples from 'German' sources. They are just different - much more simplified representations than the Italian examples.

Several examples in Raber: Weimar, Herzogin Anna Amalia Bibliothek

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P. 422-423, 584-585, and 852-853 et al.

If swallowtail merlons were intended for the use of crossbowmen, then the structure in the picture (Post #42) is completely out of scale.
It look like it was built to prevent use of the low roof as a way to get over the original wall.

You are certainly correct. We do need to adjust our interpretations to things as they were 600 years ago.
Maybe posted before, just came across this from another thread. 1440 Lombardy region, Sloan 4016

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(14-09-2021, 08:33 PM)Koen G Wrote: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.Thanks for all the research you put in, Marco, I added Barcelona as well.

Thanks to you for reviving this interesting research line!

(14-09-2021, 08:33 PM)Koen G Wrote: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.Does the map thing work well? It's the first time I use this function. I tried embedding it in the forum but this doesn't seem to work.

The map is great. I am curious to see what it will look like in a year or so....
(15-09-2021, 09:28 AM)MarcoP Wrote: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.The map is great. I am curious to see what it will look like in a year or so....

I tried looking for some more examples but they are hard to come by. Swallowtail merlons in art seem to be the kind of thing you typically come across by accident. This is why I like the concept of an ongoing collection. It's also nice to see the form emerge c. 1290's and throughout the 14th century.

The map uses layers, so it is possible to add different collections of geographical data as well.
(15-09-2021, 03:31 AM)Linda Wrote: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.Maybe posted before, just came across this from another thread. 1440 Lombardy region, Sloan 4016

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For "Lombardy region" I might just add another marker in the area of Milan, to kind of thicken the cloud there.
There is also Vilalta Castle where Rene has exhibited on his site. I just do not know the date of the picture.
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I still know some, but do not have the age.
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