16-03-2025, 10:27 AM
The Zodiac Section Overview
The Voynich Manuscript (VMS) contains an astrological section featuring 10 zodiac signs. Two signs appear to have been removed from the original sequence. The remaining sequence begins with Pisces and continues through to Sagittarius.
Astrological images of this type and era typically convey specific information: the day and month of the year, degrees within the zodiac ecliptic, religious holidays, celestial timings, and similar data. This makes the zodiac section a promising candidate for locating numerical systems, as such charts essentially function as organized lists of numbers.
Visual Structure of the Charts
A review of the zodiac images reveals a series of characters, predominantly female with some male figures. Many (though not all) have their hands reaching toward or connecting with stars. These figures are arranged in concentric circles, with "words" assigned to their star connections as well as appearing above and below them in many cases.
It's worth noting that the month names written in these zodiac charts appear inconsistent with standard astrological knowledge. Zodiac signs do not correspond directly to specific months—each sign spans portions of two months. This suggests the month names may be later additions by someone with limited astrological expertise.
Identifying Numbers in the Zodiac Charts
My approach was to search for numbers by considering what information would typically appear within each zodiac sign. The Pisces/Aries charts seemed particularly interesting since Pisces marks the end of the zodiac year while Aries marks the beginning. This boundary condition should reveal distinctive numerical patterns.
What numbers would we expect to find here? Pisces occupies the 330-360 degree range of the zodiac, and we know the Julian year in the 15th century consisted of 365 days. Therefore, the numbers from 330-365 could represent either degrees or days of the year.
After broader examination of the zodiac tables, it became apparent that the female figures likely represent days of the year, while their connections to stars represent degrees in the zodiac cycle. This hypothesis is supported by the numerical proportions: there should be more women than star connections since there are more days in the year (365) than degrees in a circle (360). Indeed, each zodiac sign typically contains 28-30 female figures, corresponding to the number of days in that month, and careful study reveals that not all have star assignments.
Analysis of Aries and Pisces Charts
Returning to the Aries chart on folio 70v1, the innermost circle lacks "words" while all other circles contain them. This suggests the beginning of a sequence where connections from preceding zodiac signs would otherwise appear. This positioning makes sense given the manuscript's ordering, indicating this folio is likely the first in a new sequence.
In the Pisces chart (folio You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.), an interesting arrangement of female figures appears on the inner circle around the 10 o'clock position. Two figures face each other, with one joined to a third by what resembles a "pipe" or channel forming what looks like the number "0".
![[Image: ALs6j_Gv5yoBWOku4udgJiiMhcfORVedCfGWSarC...1278-h1306]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/fife/ALs6j_Gv5yoBWOku4udgJiiMhcfORVedCfGWSarC2PMTmpYFZDWJ9tOUSdy2pjPpZcncMe_JsztEcmuA2odMmlQ9Q3t20RupgTJQmqKcq3A4kpmfASmHtFKJJ8IQaK2agoJLcHahawMS67N1XHQHoaaLoyp6PFH5adzpW2uqhh_f51cwCBNOwrSPX9cDDxLshjMD8_bIYIbItBKXLBSb4NeWGqXyf-7O5uJENN_-1lFhPcEK2JDsSkpv6dthjUhr2VQerK5onPanxcLV4djRE9b6M8qnNr5eXefL5oaRvLSPoMksL9FBRE-aatcy_TBmzg_9Je5JdBcCs1gaL7dkythlYtUro6yhepJjpJ7wO79SMf2yg3Jc8oKCDaZ6jKiJrGeBedSs8FYCf9llFZgSyLytRo5BwPSO3fG0oMbJ88VbjNwgouzKulzpn2Z7fbfimiL5Wpp3wPy-Khd0mIDtZYuvrty1PwFLDlRNdYSWn4X6UIr_kOJQkoWdOpCd60LFhbdjQc0oCjDmqlOoKu9pKhjMyM-NBJIz82DEcUMwvBCdnW9RfOW7aSTpf1xdRleWYvV_Vk-7m8wcohTf2cPmP-Z9IhU1kBtxyYHn7_xUcbPmKSMxoVdXnmJToJkk0WzbptLIPLHagDJOSSv1g6LEzuY9s0QHjpZwTupSLFmn4HzHYF2BNDKN1yVc_OJiQ1TvvM-APueKIIHhmkgblEbX2qkRi1JJ0smPYEIf2_-K-0_ufWnbtvUNL1JDvPjWE6AV_gR64La3tJ8VtZ1msNBgqIyhhfl6whdGT3HUbVeoaaPd7PIDc3HUlCql_rN8OhE-TeNriyWSBRpfmQK2P4ciUvhWZr7dojm-qdPYDEcGMs2BSzjUj2UBdOuorN9h8PjLc3LxnLvUsF-wnUcTgFmibwq_aN7ALUDouSEddufjwC0O5lCQz5UEVivJyeXy_TN2y-Hz3gm2R64Xia3XqXz4wP0UXcHvlJz-RmnYR8o8koV6IMb_MzTJy_yK6wleHrb6GiR3rNJjaxGzQvNM_WOFPhCePa-837Ip9oAVUS6PNKcKnGk9WfmpX-Nr2NT4t3tBkY-6_SavWMTIPB8pO8Z-OR4sOU7khtm7b2pXs8TSTpvqnF72J5VrX2Kx8lay7rN1q_JYBaVTJrVAWfX6GAnGSu9QxSS-nBpyHsQuS4uxkjkhIOZySYRtMx8Px6ZEJuRCYFSjZs9JbFTdF_PYIi0ZWatKo9vtZAFoyh67sOo2iJ-2qZOQt_iiuXau_qZhZmsD0HIdf_xVhjn4gm1waK_jjcppMFmSAlcbfrAidTbx0Z_Th84Lh-oT1g2WNqiciHmSX4oP_spw3uILfeWrvf0F1SJ1NqwcT_i4QK2eP_9e-Gfa9nq45dOlNHip4E4dEAFR-MLqejgxDg8IgZhD5jN0STFObvWjmMor9XIMrT072nuUJ7WbGAvhGB6NTHU-sBpsIkdNYNmIPVLYWUXM25tNeLtmM52SmGhzcwCLGrqrmIiI2ofCJev2Vfo2sOGAU6Dp4fxh4Wf3DduHPLPXZtser0msvRf90eRZN-PsU6ohrSAZxyojNFlZYnqf7hZhj5-5_vqlr4dn3vwZF8RgGo17RQ=w1278-h1306)
Decoding the Numerical System
The two facing figures have the "words" "otaral" and "otalar" associated with them. This pairing is intriguing because they contain identical characters but with the 'r' and 'l' positions swapped. Considering what numbers in the expected sequence of 330-365 might appear with such a relationship, 356 and 365 emerged as promising candidates.
If we take "otalar" to represent 356 and count the 8 women clockwise around the inner circle, we reach "otaral" at the 365 position. This provides some validation that these pairs might indeed represent those numbers. 365 represents the last day in Pisces and the end of the Zodiac year. I assume that's why the "pipe" connection looks like a "0", a new start.
A Roman Numeral-Like System?
This pattern suggests a positional numbering system similar to Roman numerals, where the value depends on evaluating preceding and subsequent numbers as part of a whole. Characters' values can be modified by their neighbors and cannot be interpreted in isolation. This might explain why many VMS words have an overabundance of specific characters in certain positions and why the text doesn't conform to typical European language patterns.
Proposed Number Mapping
Based on this analysis, I propose the following mappings:
The key assumption is that numbers are treated as column pairs that must be summed to derive their final values:
This system functions similarly to Roman numerals conceptually, without being Roman numerals. Indeed it may just be a columnar representation of digits.
Central Pisces Symbol Analysis
Looking at the center of the Pisces sign, we see two fish connected to a star with the word "otolal" (note: the Voynichese site lists this as "otylal," but closer examination suggests this is an error).
![[Image: ALs6j_Eq4Dwxr2FnGQeA0_GK3GbYqJOmE3eMmwqZ...1278-h1306]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/fife/ALs6j_Eq4Dwxr2FnGQeA0_GK3GbYqJOmE3eMmwqZQNaPwUb7pg_033OBgDLW_nbtywxABrhmvmIHY84_4tQnEcP6xteQ_U5MWqg0PeAs_DfbAPfnjyvKpr5eKEVxhzi2evC4cen1xpxRwj-zDxMxFFLdFc6AmD2590EEWi-BbeLG-Hyoo52BzsKQqH8psrr0H22SxqASFjfSh88w-aUR46SchYiGH7nBlQMGWvp5xrjECEqP5dmOL5HwmYU5Lj6mM0Y_WHKu55iepXBWbO-Imegcl4wsQSQZvutUzvsSQ3YRxRPmY1gPkItL3xo1xmrbyTHvsoE2Mz9RoU-0M1LFwSmhHAPbKSeXBEeihIhDo2lxItUizgkpr124G8RKz4Ri46bMb-gq7taZTBI61MadTjobwyaWjiVuOdlxS9eFsnczSJ1uzyd_x0aXe44aQqnpi10sxpns_KJ-6ShToy02bIdu_JDh_0yKLfMPjqoWdA-hn48EuBeTvxLixiEQ4TjWwCjZQDI_Dw2djePHrLHAi9swRTZinQldi0oA4B3Bh0hAr_8DxMgWKM5Y6faCBGx1gkcL2floI5fkdnUp-AQLa2b57rwcoxNgkLbK2VwLQqmkntQnt6xkBLkKluj16AyWPqJpsFe0cmw1mkTgz0tVrZNJp_HfVQdEyFndwlDP9Wdodb8rUrqsq5-WFp8BZ9tbLaOmXj7MYggoWqU371VAI0XKcetPl5dRu4g7GLdEWeT-zvKQAI9d6Vzb1Io7veUrRXROEJglHvLhO1e_gq1wVyaJoZPlit3WwqP1-E96MB5GMETD296uubBnTSevg3QTSehSwizjydt57D0QOC_j93LXPO4CWhuu1U4Zwap-c7yXYHyFAhqN_bchvG2CpTcT51QGE30pxv_R0lq6L27oEAE1etZ7azEvt_Hc76XB_GAt0DU2NVfTWgA2MoDLeWsUh-36jnVGRsuCOMv6n4JaodItPPBKV6cO0oM_j7UqSUuU1kzPIkK4AVDW2i68-fMR7BmjybRctF01nviD3jEsIEPA70kxTxXKpeKIkFzBaFKJ_8QCYm6FyU6KRHvh1o6a3mgygrBIiC_rtxT-zabVC-2Mg2Bvnea5TYtMjsHmUKfH_FWQ5eRVTXctupASEiQULHSSOHfLDa2mEYoivfhk0RuQj8N3_9sUcL8l1ekGBelpgh6g9O2S6dKVGv27mVr6P4SBd8DD1NSvusbq19aalNEUoCpV8Lwakyh3XmymGAwQSUnnyJxmoKO5bdHkkhjQM6YbI-umLA_iZ1mHduOM10tV7Ef9rVkHjoVcQuxk5bohm9exxGJFgnaqWiNCW5YRVj0u_Y1R-GKXe4HDv8fX7LIx0CqmMTczObq7m-5reKwNG87kNt6nY9xXGsj2gMfVLRjc4lXdbjqbnGtzSW9qWtkit0UaPapWMGQGoXAiP8-kwbxI8GnLQUKasoNuUJ4eldJF8E6j3z-ndpGOpDICLNdrIDCUb5fie50jpjRLIrNRkxFRzpo8i34AtwTIE2PaG4f4Wp23uc7o5NtmeibF9tUQ99a8pbOb88eC_T-2c57UIKAOmWNcw1HrsTSQ2vm794-Nu_txIUNbmhAKCZBvKQ=w1278-h1306)
Applying our decoding method to "otolal" gives us 030415 and 345. This fits perfectly within the expected degree range for Pisces (330-360).
Onward
Hopefully by solving enough of the numbers we can have a foothold on the letters and progress from there. The structure of the numbers also suggests pairing of characters which would be a good way to obfuscate the underlying letter frequencies (first by breaking them up into pairs, but then even more so by having multiple pairs that can represent a plain-text character). As I suggested earlier, this approach to encoding a cipher would result in the identified characteristics spotted in the VMS (namely that looking at single characters evidences serious deficiencies in expected representations and data density).
The Voynich Manuscript (VMS) contains an astrological section featuring 10 zodiac signs. Two signs appear to have been removed from the original sequence. The remaining sequence begins with Pisces and continues through to Sagittarius.
Astrological images of this type and era typically convey specific information: the day and month of the year, degrees within the zodiac ecliptic, religious holidays, celestial timings, and similar data. This makes the zodiac section a promising candidate for locating numerical systems, as such charts essentially function as organized lists of numbers.
Visual Structure of the Charts
A review of the zodiac images reveals a series of characters, predominantly female with some male figures. Many (though not all) have their hands reaching toward or connecting with stars. These figures are arranged in concentric circles, with "words" assigned to their star connections as well as appearing above and below them in many cases.
It's worth noting that the month names written in these zodiac charts appear inconsistent with standard astrological knowledge. Zodiac signs do not correspond directly to specific months—each sign spans portions of two months. This suggests the month names may be later additions by someone with limited astrological expertise.
Identifying Numbers in the Zodiac Charts
My approach was to search for numbers by considering what information would typically appear within each zodiac sign. The Pisces/Aries charts seemed particularly interesting since Pisces marks the end of the zodiac year while Aries marks the beginning. This boundary condition should reveal distinctive numerical patterns.
What numbers would we expect to find here? Pisces occupies the 330-360 degree range of the zodiac, and we know the Julian year in the 15th century consisted of 365 days. Therefore, the numbers from 330-365 could represent either degrees or days of the year.
After broader examination of the zodiac tables, it became apparent that the female figures likely represent days of the year, while their connections to stars represent degrees in the zodiac cycle. This hypothesis is supported by the numerical proportions: there should be more women than star connections since there are more days in the year (365) than degrees in a circle (360). Indeed, each zodiac sign typically contains 28-30 female figures, corresponding to the number of days in that month, and careful study reveals that not all have star assignments.
Analysis of Aries and Pisces Charts
Returning to the Aries chart on folio 70v1, the innermost circle lacks "words" while all other circles contain them. This suggests the beginning of a sequence where connections from preceding zodiac signs would otherwise appear. This positioning makes sense given the manuscript's ordering, indicating this folio is likely the first in a new sequence.
In the Pisces chart (folio You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.), an interesting arrangement of female figures appears on the inner circle around the 10 o'clock position. Two figures face each other, with one joined to a third by what resembles a "pipe" or channel forming what looks like the number "0".
Decoding the Numerical System
The two facing figures have the "words" "otaral" and "otalar" associated with them. This pairing is intriguing because they contain identical characters but with the 'r' and 'l' positions swapped. Considering what numbers in the expected sequence of 330-365 might appear with such a relationship, 356 and 365 emerged as promising candidates.
If we take "otalar" to represent 356 and count the 8 women clockwise around the inner circle, we reach "otaral" at the 365 position. This provides some validation that these pairs might indeed represent those numbers. 365 represents the last day in Pisces and the end of the Zodiac year. I assume that's why the "pipe" connection looks like a "0", a new start.
A Roman Numeral-Like System?
This pattern suggests a positional numbering system similar to Roman numerals, where the value depends on evaluating preceding and subsequent numbers as part of a whole. Characters' values can be modified by their neighbors and cannot be interpreted in isolation. This might explain why many VMS words have an overabundance of specific characters in certain positions and why the text doesn't conform to typical European language patterns.
Proposed Number Mapping
Based on this analysis, I propose the following mappings:
- otaral = 031514
- otalar = 031415
The key assumption is that numbers are treated as column pairs that must be summed to derive their final values:
- 0+3=3
- 1+5=6
- 1+4=5
- Total: 365
This system functions similarly to Roman numerals conceptually, without being Roman numerals. Indeed it may just be a columnar representation of digits.
Central Pisces Symbol Analysis
Looking at the center of the Pisces sign, we see two fish connected to a star with the word "otolal" (note: the Voynichese site lists this as "otylal," but closer examination suggests this is an error).
Applying our decoding method to "otolal" gives us 030415 and 345. This fits perfectly within the expected degree range for Pisces (330-360).
Onward
Hopefully by solving enough of the numbers we can have a foothold on the letters and progress from there. The structure of the numbers also suggests pairing of characters which would be a good way to obfuscate the underlying letter frequencies (first by breaking them up into pairs, but then even more so by having multiple pairs that can represent a plain-text character). As I suggested earlier, this approach to encoding a cipher would result in the identified characteristics spotted in the VMS (namely that looking at single characters evidences serious deficiencies in expected representations and data density).
![[Image: 80103f816cc06605445bf33c64e4870e345caeab.jpg]](https://cdn.kastatic.org/ka-perseus-images/80103f816cc06605445bf33c64e4870e345caeab.jpg)
