The Voynich Ninja

Word EVA sholalam

The word sholalam in 58r.4 (sholala@210 in ZL transliteration) could be the Greek word σχολαιότης – leisureliness, laziness, if we accept that the EVA « l » can transcribe both l and i, and that the last glyph (m) can mean r… or t…



Moreover, the two l are not the same size; is this a clue?

Word EVA ory

In this post I examine the label « ory » from the middle band of labels on the Cancer page (<f72r3.18,&Lz> <!01:30>).

This word, unlike most labels, appears 16 more times in the manuscript.
The word seems simple, for example ο(ω)ρη(ος), but a great difficulty lies in choosing among the multiple meanings offered by dictionaries.

Word ὄρος ;

• mountain, hill;
  
• canton, parish; in Egypt, desert;
  
• part of the foot;
  
• =ἀμίς – chamber pot;
  
• the watery or serous part of milk, serum of the blood; the watery part of wood-tar; seminal fluid;
  
• boundary, landmark;
  
• memorial stone or pillar,
  
• standard, measure, rule, canon;
  
• in Logic, term of a proposition, hence, definition; premiss of a syllogism;
  
• Math., term of a ratio or proportion; pl., terms, conditions;
  
• Astrol., οἱ τρεῖς ὅ. the three terms, used in various calculations;
  
• (gr.) – term (word, phrase; limitation, restriction), definition, stipulation, clause (law) article;
  
• Horos =Limit, one of the Gnostic Aeons.
  

Word ὄρη :

• plural of ὄρος;
  
• acc of ὀρεύς – mule; poet. Adj. for ὀρεινός – mountainous, hilly; of or from the mountains, dwelling on the mountains; in Egypt, belonging to the edge of the desert, esp. as epith. of canals;
  
• conjugated form of ὁράω – observe; metaph., of mental sight, discern, perceive; abs., see visions; interview.
  

Word ὧρος :

• Ὦρος, proper noun;
  
• a year;
  
• Aeol. crasis for ὁ ἔρος – love, desire;
  
• = ἄωρος – sleep;
  
• ἡ νύξ – night.
  

Word ὥρη:

• Ion., some part of a sacrificial victim;
  
• for ὥρα –any period, fixed by natural laws and revolutions, whether of the year, month, or day;
  
• spring,
  
• summer,
  
• winter,
  
• the year generally;
  
• time of day;
  
• duration, interval or lapse of time;
  
• Astrol., degree of the zodiac rising at the nativity;
  
• the fitting time or season for a thing;
  
• metaph., the spring-time of life, the bloom of youth;
  
• generally, beauty, grace, elegance of style;
  
• care, concern.
  

I am convinced that the meaning of our label lies on this long list and it is just a matter of time to understand.
Should we choose the terms used in astrology, for example ὥρη – degree of the zodiac rising at the nativity?

Word EVA yfary

The word yfary is unique in the manuscript, it is the label of a nymph from the inner band of labels on the Cancer page (<f72r3.28,&Lz> <!00:00>).

I read this word as 9far9 and I found three Greek words:

• ἀφαρῆ (Byz.) = ἀφαρεί = ἄφαρ – Adv. straightway, forthwith; suddenly, quickly;
  
• ἀφᾱρής – without φᾶρος, unclad, naked, of the Χάριτες;
  
• ἄφᾰρος = ἀφάρωτος – unploughed, untilled.
  

I don’t know if any of these terms would be suitable for the star-nymph diagram, so I’m still searching, for example, considering that EVA f can also transcribe p.

Word ἐπάρας :

• genitive of ἐπαρά – solemn curse, imprecation;
  
• present participle of ἐπαίρω – lift, raise; exalt, magnify; lift up one’s leg or rise up; Pass., swell up; stir up, excite; Pass., also, to be elated at a thing.
  

Word ἐπαρή :

• Ionian for ἐπαρά – solemn curse, imprecation;
  
• conjugated form of ἐπαίρω – lift, raise; exalt, magnify; lift up one’s leg or rise up; Pass., swell up; stir up, excite; Pass., also, to be elated at a thing;
  
• conjugated form of ἐπαράομαι – imprecate curses upon; curse solemnly;
  
• conjugated form of πάρειμι – to be by or present; to be by or near one; to be present in or at; of things, to be by, i.e. ready or at hand;
  
• conjugated form of πάρημαι – to be seated beside or by; abs., sit by or near;
  
• conjugated form of παρίημι – let fall at the side, let fall; pass by, pass over; pass unnoticed, disregard; of Time, let pass; relax; Pass., to be relaxed, weakened; remit punishment; yield, give up; permit, allow; allow to pass, admit; beg to be excused or let off something;
  
• conjugated form of πείρω – pierce, run through, mostly of cooking.
  

Word ἀπάρῃ :

• conjugated form of ἀπαείρω – depart; remove;
  
• conjugated form of ἀπαίρω – lift off, and so, carry off, take away; lead or carry away.
  

I wonder if conjugated verb forms could serve as labels?
Perhaps ἐπάρας, the present participle of ἐπαίρω – the one who rises?

And let’s not forget Latin; if we consider that y at the beginning of the word could transcribe con(m)-, yfary could be read as compares, plural of compar – equal, equal to; like, similar, resembling; suitable, matching, corresponding.

Word EVA opalal

The word opalal appears twice in the manuscript: as a label for a nymph in the inner band of labels on the Cancer page (<f72r3.27,@Lz> <!10:30>) and on 108r.35.

This word contains the glyph l twice, which, in my opinion, can transcribe l and i:

• ὀπαῖαι, pl fem of ὀπαῖος – with a hole or opening;
  
• ἁπᾰλαί, fem pl/ sg dat dor of ἁπαλός – soft to the touch, tender; of persons, delicate; metaph., soft, gentle; in bad sense, soft, effeminate, weak.
  

At the moment I don’t know which term is best for our nymph, but I find that the two l are slightly different, so if the last l transcribes i, the first would rather be l.

Word EVA oraiiral

The word oraiiral (ZL) or osaiisal (Takahashi) is the label of a nymph from inner band of labels on the Cancer page (<f72r3.29,&Lz> <!01:30>).



In my opinion, the word is more likely osaiiral, which I read as osaurai.

This word corresponds perfectly to a Byzantine word ὁσῶραι (that is, ὅσαι ὧραι) – every hour, hourly, constantly.

Word EVA aral

The word aral has 19 occurrences in the manuscript, but only one as a nymph label, on the Cancer page (<f72r3.32,&Lz> <!07:30>).



I read this word as arai and there are several possibilities in Greek:

• ἀραί, sg dat/ pl of ἀρά – prayer, vow, curse, imprecation;
  
• Ἀραί, sg dat/ pl of Ἀρά, personified as the goddess of destruction and revenge; Ἀραί, the name of the Erinyes, goddesses of vengeance;
  
• ἀραί, sg dat/ pl of ἀρή – bane, ruin;
  
• ἀραί, conjugated form of ἀράομαι – pray to a god;
  
• ἀραί, conjugated form of ἀράζω – snarl, growl, of dogs (onomatop., = make the sound ἀρα, ἀρρα);
  
• ἀραί, aorist infinitive of αἴρω – lift, raise up; take up, in various uses: draw water; gather food; pluck herbs; take up and carry or bring; take up and bear, as a burden; wear clothes; raise, levy; rear a child; raise up, exalt; raise by words, hence, praise, extol; lift and take away, remove; make away with, destroy; Med., lift, take up for oneself or what is one’s own; Medic., to be swollen.
  

Which of these options suits the nymph-star?
Personally, I lean towards « raise up, exalt, grow », but it is too early to draw a definitive conclusion.

Word EVA oletal

One of the nymphs in the inner band of labels on the Cancer page has the word oletal as its label (<f72r3.33,&Lz> <!09:00>).



Could this single word, which I read as olibai, be a conjugated form of the verb ὀλιβάζω?

Although for the moment I have only found two forms, ὀλιβᾶ and ὀλιβᾶς (fut ind act 1st and 2nd sg), I think that ὀλιβάζω is a very good candidate.

This verb is synonymous with ὀλισθαίνω/ ὀλισθανω – slip, fall upon a slippery path; slip or glide along; make to slip.

I hope these terms can be applied to our star nymph.

Word EVA otolal

The single word otolal serves as a label for the pair of fish and their star on the Pisces page (<f70v2.33,@Lz>).



I read this word as obolai and my best current explanation is ἀβολαί for ἀντιβολαί, like ἀβολέω for ἀντιβολέω.

This would be the plural of ἀβολή (ἀντιβολή) – confronting, comparing, collation; opposition; discussion; substitute.

Did you explain somewhere already why you are changing between „L“ and „i“ at the transcription of l ?

(11-05-2026, 01:17 PM)Stefan Wirtz_2 Wrote: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.Did you explain somewhere already why you are changing between „L“ and „i“ at the transcription of l ?

Regarding EVA "l" as a vowel, I must have mentioned it somewhere at the beginning, several years ago now. 
Let's not forget that my reading is not (yet) fixed, which is why I always share the transcription and my current reading.