After this discussion it occurred to me that some of the VMS properties might be better explainable if one considers the possibility of the words having been written backwards (after the first step of encoding and/or abbreviation). For example, many paragraphs start with the small set of gallows symbols. But if the first word of a paragraph is written actually backwards, then the gallows represent word endings - probably in abbreviated form, and the typical word endings - especially for words not inflected - are possibly not that many in number.
Just an idea.
(08-05-2016, 01:29 PM)Anton Wrote: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.After this discussion it occurred to me that some of the VMS properties might be better explainable if one considers the possibility of the words having been written backwards (after the first step of encoding and/or abbreviation). For example, many paragraphs start with the small set of gallows symbols. But if the first word of a paragraph is written actually backwards, then the gallows represent word endings - probably in abbreviated form, and the typical word endings - especially for words not inflected - are possibly not that many in number.
Just an idea.
LOL!
I've been keeping so quiet about that (for years) but dropped a hint about it on Marco's astrology thread a couple of days ago.
It's quite possible for it to be written left to right but be read right to left or... for it to be written left to right and to be read left to right, but for individual vords to be read right to left.
Or, as I hinted recently, for it to be read left to right, but for there to be possible mnemonics going right to left to make it easier to remember what some of them mean.
ANTON. I cite an example, which can be explained by (if the text is was copied) writing of "the plow", but however it is necessary to read from left to right. (письмо плугом)
@anton / JKP
hmmm.. I'll take that with me in my next gallow-analysis
@Wladimir D
interesting, but if writing would have be done anywhere from right-to-left i think we would find smears of ink from right-to-left...
(unless the author was left handed)
i do not remember seeing any smears of ink in the text anywhere
(10-05-2016, 10:19 AM)Davidsch Wrote: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.@anton / JKP
hmmm.. I'll take that with me in my next gallow-analysis
@Wladimir D
interesting, but if writing would have be done anywhere from right-to-left i think we would find smears of ink from right-to-left...
(unless the author was left handed)
i do not remember seeing any smears of ink in the text anywhere
All the scribe has to do is pre-write it on a wax tablet (in whatever order or direction is desired) and then copy it.
I'm almost certain, especially looking at the rosettes page, that at least some of the manuscript was predrawn or written. It would be very difficult to extemporize something like that. Even just getting text to fit within a circle is a challenge unless you've worked out the spacing beforehand.
The spacing in the VMS is a bit weird in places but... it doesn't look like something created off-the-cuff, especially the more complex pages, it looks like some planning was involved.
I agree that we shouldn't underestimate how much experience, skill and/or planning there is involved in creating something like this. We tend to focus on the places where it looks weird or went wrong, forgetting that they are the exceptions.
The lack of smearing in MS Beinecke 408 can also simply be explained by assuming a now-lost original that was copied. This would allow the copyist to write (or even "draw") the glyphs in the normal way, even though originally they had been written the other way around.
Quote:JKP:
I'm almost certain, especially looking at the rosettes page, that at least some of the manuscript was predrawn or written. It would be very difficult to extemporize something like that. Even just getting text to fit within a circle is a challenge unless you've worked out the spacing beforehand.
I agree, this is also my argument on the You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.