27-08-2025, 09:04 AM
Hi all,
Re: Folio 73v:
The human crossbowman's bolt points to the downward-star nymph (which is ~8-o'clock position). I believe this male/sun is pointing toward the female nymph telling us to invert what we are looking at. Thus, I propose the system inverts: the female/lunar counterpart across the 30 nymph ring defines the actual mapping. This would reframe the zodiac not as degree lists, but as lunisolar day mapping (29-30 days).
Some things that confirm my idea (along with some further thought on my end):
1. The inversion rule (Sun to Moon, and Male to Female) fits symbolic inversion practices of the 15th century; and the consistency of 29-30 nymphs per ring across the manuscript confirms a lunar cycle theory.
2. Sagittarius being a deliberate pointer to the downward-star nymph suggests to me intentional signaling.
3. The gender inversion also fits the broader symbolic traditions of the 15th century. The motif of the crossbowman matches Central European (Bohemian/Hussite-war era) iconography. I believe our author originated in Bohemia or was there during the religious wars, and that's why this book was created in the first place.
Some other thoughts I had:
1. Was the manuscript authored by a woman? Given the focus on cycles, or by a man with a medical/alchemical background?
2. Do the colored stars function as secondary markers (lunar/planetary, or cycle heaviness)?
3. Ultimately I suppose I'm curious if there are anomalies distributed in a way that supports the inversion model I proposed?
I would love to hear your thoughts on whether this model holds when applied across the other zodiac folios.
Happy hunting!
Re: Folio 73v:
The human crossbowman's bolt points to the downward-star nymph (which is ~8-o'clock position). I believe this male/sun is pointing toward the female nymph telling us to invert what we are looking at. Thus, I propose the system inverts: the female/lunar counterpart across the 30 nymph ring defines the actual mapping. This would reframe the zodiac not as degree lists, but as lunisolar day mapping (29-30 days).
Some things that confirm my idea (along with some further thought on my end):
1. The inversion rule (Sun to Moon, and Male to Female) fits symbolic inversion practices of the 15th century; and the consistency of 29-30 nymphs per ring across the manuscript confirms a lunar cycle theory.
2. Sagittarius being a deliberate pointer to the downward-star nymph suggests to me intentional signaling.
3. The gender inversion also fits the broader symbolic traditions of the 15th century. The motif of the crossbowman matches Central European (Bohemian/Hussite-war era) iconography. I believe our author originated in Bohemia or was there during the religious wars, and that's why this book was created in the first place.
Some other thoughts I had:
1. Was the manuscript authored by a woman? Given the focus on cycles, or by a man with a medical/alchemical background?
2. Do the colored stars function as secondary markers (lunar/planetary, or cycle heaviness)?
3. Ultimately I suppose I'm curious if there are anomalies distributed in a way that supports the inversion model I proposed?
I would love to hear your thoughts on whether this model holds when applied across the other zodiac folios.
Happy hunting!