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Don't get fooled again. |
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Posted by: R. Sale - 21-03-2022, 01:24 AM - Forum: Voynich Talk
- Replies (5)
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The VMs is difficult to interpret for several reasons: indecipherable linguistics, mediocre artistry, obscure representations, and the investigative failure to follow the VMs rules. This results in the inability to separate valid and useful interpretations from those that not valid and extraneous.
If the growing number of subtle, religious references are accepted, it is also reasonable to consider that this religious content is part of a religious frame of reference. Therefore, if we wish to discover what is valid, we need to see what the VMs can show that is valid, and how that sort of demonstration takes place. And to see that it takes place in a way that cannot itself be invalidated.
Well, surprise! Such a system exists. It is basic. It is simple. And it is Biblical. It comes from the laws of Deuteronomy. It is the ancient law that validation requires two witnesses. [Deut. 17:6 and 19:15] It is a law that is repeated twice. In the VMs, it is the rule of pairing. Pairing is validation.
Validation of what, you may ask. First, in the Zodiac sequence medallions, pairing validates that pairing is an operative system in the VMs. That like objects make obvious pairs, but complimentary opposites are just as valid. And second that heraldic pairing can establish historical grounding. Paired heraldic insignia: paired bendy, argent et azur, paired papellony furs, paired red galeros (Catholic cardinals), paired white galeros (Premonstratensians)
Appearance may be deceptive, in some cases intentionally so, but pairing as an aspect of traditional structure provides a significant insight into the workings of the VMs. The recognition of pairings in certain VMs illustrations can demonstrate how the VMs artist has created the VMs disguise.
The VMs cosmos combines the "Parisian" cosmic structure of BNF Fr. 565 (Oresme) made c. 1410, and Harley 334 (De Metz) made c. 1430, and the plain nebuly line version of a cosmic boundary from the Berry Apocalypse, with the 'wheel and curved spokes" image of Shirakatsi's Eight Phases of the Moon diagram.
The so called VMs mermaid combines the generic "mermaid and other creatures' representation as found in Harley 334 (above) and in the illustrations of Diebold Lauber's version of the Buch de Natur, with the Luxembourg version of the mythical Melusine.
The VMs critter of You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. combines a representation of the Burgundian 'Golden Fleece" with a specific structural representation of an Agnus Dei image from the Apocalypse of S Jean (BNF Fr. 13096) created in 1313, but later a part of the Burgundian library.
A second representation of the Golden Fleece, as a companion of Melusine, then validates this identification as part of a pairing. Don't be fooled by appearance. The Valois ancestry from the Luxembourg version of mythical Melusine and the Burgundian Golden Fleece are one and the same. They are verified by the historical description of 'The Feast of the Pheasant', and further connections between the Duke of Berry (d. 1416) and the Lusignan version of Melusine are very well documented.
Don't be fooled by VMs trickery. Pairing indicates validity.
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| C-14 Iconology |
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Posted by: R. Sale - 16-03-2022, 08:20 PM - Forum: Imagery
- Replies (4)
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While you can't test icons for C-14, you can rediscover the icons that were relevant during the C-14 dates. However, it has taken some time to recover those icons and to place those that are relevant into a functional interpretation. This is a compilation of multiple investigators' results.
The VMs begins with a lot of herbal illustrations. Some are a bit odd, others are totally strange. Regardless of potential identification, no connection with the written text has been established. And that goes for the written text throughout the VMs. Nothing in the written text can reliably be read. That leaves the collective remains of VMs illustrations.
The plants can take a lot of time and yet reveal nothing. The cosmic pages reveal nothing. Only when the reader can see the VMs cosmos itself can the true depths of VMs trickery and obfuscation be seen by those who recognize the two icons combined to create this representation. Trickery and obfuscation are further revealed in the VMs Zodiac sequence with a focus on White Aries. White Aries is a structure built of icons and traditions. But the icons and traditions of the VMs are those from 600 or more years in the past.
Furthermore, where the artist of a standard text would endeavor to maximize and make obvious, the VMs artist has chosen to minimize and disguise, to create ambiguity. Not to eliminate, but to obfuscate. The icons are present even though they have been hidden by their altered appearance. Despite visible ambiguity, interpretation and identification are facilitated by the structure of the illustration, as an examination of the details of the VMs cosmos reveals, and further examples confirm this use of standard iconic structure.
The iconology of the VMs is only suggested by the potential recognition of ambiguous appearance. Potential VMs iconography can be verified by historical research and by the investigation of internal details in the VMs illustrations that reveal iconic structure.
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| Circular text & Wreath |
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Posted by: R. Sale - 12-03-2022, 08:28 PM - Forum: Analysis of the text
- Replies (3)
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Is this f86v5, with the wreath??
Has there been any special investigation of the circular text?
If we continue the conjecture that this folio interpretation is tied to C-14 contemporary religious trends in Mariology, that this is the 'wreath of the virgin', and the virgin is represented by the moon, then what if these four lines of text are also a part, as prayers, like the "little office of the virgin" in some form.
The attempt to match VMs text to historical text, based on plant identifications produced no viable candidates, will other possibilities fare any better?
ADD: REFERENCE
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Notes: Premonstratensians are the white galeros. Mandatory during C-14 dates. Variable. Need relevant examples.
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| Ksenia Chepikova about the Voynich Manuscript |
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Posted by: Anton - 12-03-2022, 01:15 AM - Forum: News
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A friend of mine dropped me the link. The interview is in Russian, and as far as I can see there are no English subtitles unfortunately.
Unfortunately, these days I haven't had enough time yet to view it in full, the first ~20 minutes that I got into are mostly descriptive, what's the VMS, its history and all that. The description of the video, however, announces the subject of whether the VMS is, or is not, a "modern forgery" as the main subject of the talk.
What I did not like from the onset was the suggestion that the VMS may be a palimpsest. I recall that the statement that the VMS is not a palimpsest was the one most unanimously (pardon me this) approved in our sadly abandoned Voynich facts endeavour.
A quick search showed me that Dr. Chepikova is from the University of Jena. I don't remember her name mentioned in any of the Voynich discussions however.
The Russian speakers who happen to watch the video in full please be welcome to add to this; so will I when I have time to watch it further.
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| Medieval Arabic manuscripts in Timbuktu digitized and translated |
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Posted by: RenegadeHealer - 11-03-2022, 02:16 PM - Forum: Codicology and Paleography
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Good news reported by the BBC recently:
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The climate in Timbuktu, Mali is ideal for the natural preservation of ancient codices. In Medieval Times Timbuktu was a major overland transport hub, and amassed one of the world’s largest library of mostly Arabic language manuscripts, on all sorts of topics.
The reason this makes me happy is because in recent years Timbuktu has seen a lot of Islamic fundamentalist unrest, and is not safe for Western tourists or researchers to visit. As the article describes, there have been (so far only slightly successful) attempts by militant Islamists to destroy these codices. We may have lost the priceless libraries at Alexandria and Baghdad, but copies of some of the manuscripts contained there might very well have made their way to Timbuktu.
It’s my opinion that Medieval Arabic manuscripts are a potentially fruitful source of precedents for anyone exploring alchemical and/or herbal themes in the VMs. Or earlier and closer-to-the-source versions of mythology and philosophy from the world of Classical Antiquity.
Learning to read classical Arabic and spending my days looking at digitized alchemical manuscripts is one idea I have for a retirement project, if I ever retire.
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| Well of Moses |
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Posted by: R. Sale - 10-03-2022, 10:43 PM - Forum: Imagery
- Replies (6)
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Need something hexagonal to subtly fill in under that starry canopy in your central VMs Rosette?
You've tried thrones and fountains and pulpits, and they just don't seem right.
Try Well of Moses! Clearly hexagonal and the provenance is delicious. Goes great with mythical Melusine, the Golden Fleece, and La Sainte Hostie de Dijon.
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| Voynich conference! |
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Posted by: LisaFaginDavis - 07-03-2022, 07:19 PM - Forum: News
- Replies (90)
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Greetings, all,
I am very pleased to announce an open call for papers for a Voynich conference hosted by the University of Malta! The conference will take place online on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1.
Submissions will be double-blind peer reviewed. Rene and I will be presenting keynote lectures, and Beinecke curator Ray Clemens will present opening remarks. All the information you need is here: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.
- Lisa
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| Stephen Bax and Book of Shadows? |
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Posted by: L.Penny - 03-03-2022, 12:04 AM - Forum: Voynich Talk
- Replies (6)
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Hello, I have just come across this site after watching some Stephen Bax videos on You Tube, which were absolutely fascinating and suggest a very logical and down to earth approach at translating this absolutely fascinating manuscript simply by looking at the linguistic similarities using the plants as a starting point. He also looked at words for Taurus and Aldebaran or Sirius. Anyway, I'm not a techy person so don't go on forums usually and took one look at this site and didn't know where to start. So I thought I would jut dive in and ask some questions.
1. Where can I find out more about work expanding on Stephen's start as he sadly passed away?
2. And also, the manuscript to me looks like it could be some kind of Book of Shadows, as there is obviously sections pertaining to herbs and healing, metaphysical, astrological and divination and what could be some kind of recipes or spells. Is there any other information about that area of study? My mother and I have discussed this possibility over 20 years ago now and finding the videos on You Tube just sparked my interest again.
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| Automatic Transcription |
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Posted by: Mark Knowles - 28-02-2022, 04:28 PM - Forum: Voynich Talk
- Replies (5)
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I think I may have addressed this before. However I think it worth mentioning again given that Beata Megyesi and the people at the DECODE database, who I am often in contact with, are looking at potentially creating an automated transcription of the ciphers in their very large collection. I think this is the likely future of the transcription of the Voynich manuscript. As with most automated processes this would be much faster than could be done by a human being. I can foresee an advantage in this in that the user could potentially provide parameters to the transcription program which would affect the way it transcribed the text. For example one might specify that two glyphs are to be treated as the same or alternatively to be treated as different or for example certain glyphs are to be treated as a series of microglyphs or alternatively as one whole glyph. In short multiple different transcriptions could be produced each with different user defined preferences.If you don't like EVA then you could create your own transcription quickly and easily. However the program could potentially suggest which would be a better way to transcribe it e.g. suggest that these two glyph should be treated as one given that they verge into one another with no clear distinction. It could do this by analysing a vast number of instances of a glyph shape in a way that would be difficult for a human to do. I guess it could even some day potentially analyse the text to distinguish between the different authors.
Like many other areas of AI image recognition is progressing a pace and some day will catch up with the Voynich.
As others have already noticed I am quite interested in what the future of Voynich research will be like and how technological advances will continue to revolutionise it as they have in the past with new technologies like the internet.
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