The Voynich Ninja

I was watching some Youtube videos tonight and noticed this image being used in one, it made me remember Koen mentioning the 3 part object held by one of the nymphs on You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. maybe resembling "clappers", and there was a bit of discussion about it. 

What caught my eye is the monk(?)/healer using tongues/forceps on the person in the bed above the person with the clappers in the lower down bed. There is also another person with them sitting to the left. 

I don't have much to add, I just thought it was an interesting comparison that may incorporate both objects in this section of You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. and leprosy/clappers previously discussed. 

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Books is here - Image on 223r
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Another interpretation is that the scene from You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. is inspired by Christ healing the blind man or generally some poor beggar kneeling before a holy man:

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In such case the "clappers" would be badly interpretted beggar's bowl.

I would generally agree that the inspiration for the scene is from some religious imagery, involving lepers or beggars.

Very premodern of St. Francis to treat lepers with his stigmata exposed like that.

I always like it when various things from a folio are found in the same context. Indeed, the three-lobed thing could be seen as lepers' clappers. See You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.
However, that same thread started out with a comparison to pears: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. (Voynich ambiguity, anyone?)
It's interesting that in your picture the lepers are depicted using their clapper in the medical facility, where those would serve no function (everybody already knows there are lepers in that room). I suspect it serves like an identifying attribute here.

The thongs as a medic's "pincers" (?) would fit, though not for the first time we run into the issue that they are held by the wrong person.
What would also fit is the fact that the "patient" holding the pincers is covered, in a way, up to the waist, like the bedridden figures in your picture. Additionally, her left hand appears to be under the "cover" or even constrained by a rope. I assume some form of restriction of the appendages may be needed depending on the treatment.

With this image, of course we cannot bypass the "baptism" interpretation, which I have seen proposed independently on several occasions. Even one of the earlier threads on the forum: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. 

It's also remarkable that the "baptizing" nymph is given a separate "rock" to stand on, making sure she is operating from the shore. This is not something we ever see in Q13, but it makes sense in baptism iconography.

In short, the images don't work in any single straightforward way. Do they work in any way?

A baptism is a cleansing of the soul, and medicine is the cleansing of the body. There might be a bridging context there.

Quote:What would also fit is the fact that the "patient" holding the pincers is covered, in a way, up to the waist, like the bedridden figures in your picture.

If you look closely, her legs are total mess.
My guess is that the artist tried to hide it by drawing some "skirt".

(05-10-2026, 01:33 PM)Koen G Wrote: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.It's interesting that in your picture the lepers are depicted using their clapper in the medical facility, where those would serve no function (everybody already knows there are lepers in that room). I suspect it serves like an identifying attribute here.

Maybe they were used to call nurses in case of special needs?

All the best, --stolfi

(05-10-2026, 11:04 AM)Rafal Wrote: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.Another interpretation is that the scene from You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. is inspired by Christ healing the blind man or generally some poor beggar kneeling before a holy man.  In such case the "clappers" would be badly interpretted beggar's bowl.

Indeed, the left nymph does seem to be touching the eye of the right one, who seems to be kneeling before her.

I always "read" the object in her hand as a ladle with a short handle, that the nymph would use to scoop up water from a shallow tub/pool to pour on her head or torso.  

Now I think that the pair does makes sense as having been inspired by some illustration of Jesus opening the eyes of the beggar, which the Scribe would have mis-interpreted, unduly adapted, and mangled:

• he did not recognize it as a reference to a specific biblical episode.
  
• so he replaced what he thought were just two generic persons by two of his nymphs.
  
• he had never drawn a kneeling nymph before so he bungled the right leg.
  
• he mistook the beggar's bowl for a ladle with short handle to scoop up water.
  

I could say more if I were allowed to mention the Retracing theories here...

All the best, --stolfi

I think the eye thing is being taken a bit too literally personally, giving the drawer too much credit. 
Given all the evidence of their poor drawing skill, especially with nymphs and extra-especially with limbs.. do we really think they did not attempt something along these lines and end up with someone more fingers than palm in the eye?

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The similarity to the illustration with the "beggar's bowl" looks good to me. The VMs artist just decided to cut it off at the water line and there it is.

The double line at the waist is also a curiosity.

(05-10-2026, 09:34 PM)R. Sale Wrote: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.The similarity to the illustration with the "beggar's bowl" looks good to me. The VMs artist just decided to cut it off at the water line and there it is.

The double line at the waist is also a curiosity.

Not claiming it is this, just an example. Also bonus merlons(?). 

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