The VMs is a programm, not computer, but handwritten one. It must not be read, it is run and it just functions. Of course, it can be written and it is written by a medieval programmer. You could read a source code to understand the function of this program, if you know this especial programming language. As it is doubtful, it keeps and will keep on functioning to its finish line.
As my site with the article, where the theme of the hidden notes and images in the VMs was observed, doesn't work now, I've decided to place it here, with updates and corrections. The aim is to put together all existed hidden and illegible notes, pictures or symbols of the VMs, ; to systematize and to analyse them. As well, it is necessary to know, why they are here and why they are hidden.
I think that revealing of these notes is a very important task. Who knows, maybe, they include a name of the author or a date of the VMs originating, or some sacral symbols, which could explain the nature of the content. For now, unfortunately, there is no progress in proof of my and others's discoveries in this area, also there is no agreement in reading of the suspected notes, but I have a huge hope that the day of the "official revealing" will come sooner or later. 1. The first item in my list is the inscription in the left top corner of the Rosettes page (f86r). It was discovered by others before me and, later, by myself independently.
a) this fragment, edited in a few ways, with and without photofilters
b) this fragment in original look (1) and its interpretation (2, 3-4)
The last level of the interpretation was shown on my site, but I haven't include it here since it is too obscure and doubtful, although I believe it is present.
2. The notes in the right low corner of the Rosettes page (f86r).
a) the fragment of the original image
b) the edited fragment with changing of the lightening ranges
c) the tables with this fragment edited with different methods
d) the table containing the original image (1) and the interpreted one (2-3) (with burned lines)
3. The faded inscription (letter/symbol) in the right low corner of the Rosettes page (f86r). It was discovered and discussed many times. Many of us considered it the capital letter "M". This letter can mean many different abbreviations, therefore, even, if this is the mentioned one, it doesn't clarify the issue, but, there really is one more letter after it, it can be a hint.
a) the edited fragment with the "M"
b) the mentioned "M' in comparison with "M"s of the Codex Sang. 754
c) the fragment showing some letters (abbreviation?) next to the "M" with my interpretation (the last image)
4. The first page (f1r) of the VMs, top right corner. The illegible notes/ symbols/ image.
a) the edited fragment (1-2) and my interpretation with burned lines (3)
5. The notes on the figure on the f85v. Thanks to JKP for paying attention to it. JKP, even, if you are still doubt in its existing or in the reading, I find it to be very important for continuation of my examination on the hidden images of the VMs.
a) the edited fragment of the f85v
b) the next levels of correction (changed lightening ranges, photofilters) and my vision (the left low image)
c) the edited fragment with the suspected word in latin letters on the hand of the figure (1) and the two versions of my interpretation (2-3). The last letter/ symbol is not usual ("bird-glyph?), but, as I think, it substitutes by itself the letter "r"
In conclusion, I need to say that, as much as I see and understand it, the author of these notes often uses capital letters (in the begining of a word, a whole word, a separate letter). So, I'd say that this is a main difference between them and the visible marginalia. I'd note that the handwriting differs, as well.
The hidden notes could be divided in two categories: letters and symbols (sigils?) The letters are Latin, the symbols are not usual for alchemical or habitual magical sigils. I can only suppose that they are personal author's sigils or unknown to us symbols.
One question which has to be addressed by anyone whose theory is that the manuscript's content is some standard text used in medieval Latin European education is this:
Why would anyone trouble to mystify a work whose plain text was available in every scholarly library and taught as part of the ordinary curriculum?
Remember that texts did not only exist in the form of books: their content was quite literally memorised as part of their being read.
If the written part of the text is in cipher (which I tend to doubt) it indicates that the person(s) concerned considered the information valuable and presumably rare - at least rare and valued within their community.
From the blurb:
"This illustrated guide to the Voynich Manuscript is targeted mainly at those who have recently come across the book and are wondering what all the fuss is about, and why, after more than a century of effort, nobody has cracked its code yet. It should also be useful as a set of tests for those who believe they may have cracked the code, so that they can see how their solution matches up against each of the puzzles or notable features described. And finally, it is hopefully of interest to those already familiar with the manuscript – perhaps they will find something new or thought provoking within."
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A 69 page self-published book also available for Kindle which has just been published.
It's written by long time research Julian Bunn whose Amazon author description reads: Julian is an English physicist living in Pasadena, California. He enjoys mechanical and electronic things, puzzles and sunshine.
This account presupposes the manuscript is just tech news and tweets it out. Rather bizarre, in a pleasing sort of way.
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The year draws to a close, as every year will. It's time to cast a glance back and to highlight points in which Voynich studies have moved forward in one or another way. I can think of several "nominations" of "Voynich highlights". (We do not award any prizes, this is just for the sake of classification).
"Voynich events" - notable events such as new books, conferences, sessions etc.
"Voynich papers" - notable journal publications or perhaps blog posts which introduced academic novelty into Voynich studies.
"Voynich discussions" - discussions and proposals with no decisive results as of yet, but of promising nature.
And, finally, "Voynich advances" - this is for new discoveries in the field of VMS - that is, for decisive results bringing us forward.
You will find my personal list below. Please note that I am not able even to follow this very forum in full, let alone each and every Voynich blog. So don't blame me for any omissions. Rather, please feel free to expand the list.
The whole purpose of the thread is, of course, to provide our users with a brief review of achievements worth looking at.
So, for me the things stand as follows (in no particular order).
Voynich Events:
1. Being a modest person, I won't hesitate though to mention here the emergence of the Voynich Ninja forum. Technically it was created in 2015, but it was launched public only in early 2016.
2. The new Yale book with VMS scans and professional reviews, of course, is also a significant event in 2016.
3. I would also like to mention our VMBOK effort here. Although it's still in its infancy, I firmly believe in this initiative (even that I'm often lazy to participate).
Voynich Papers:
Can't really remember any publication that truly brought us forward. There was quite a number of interesting ones, but no decisive results have been obtained.
Voynich Discussions:
1. You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.. Something definitely existing - but what's the underlay meaning/significance?.. Noone knows yet.
2. You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. and the developing discussion of the glyph construction principles. Excellent work done by Wladimir who observes and summarizes "unusual" glyphs and glyph combinations occurrences leads to re-assessing of our understanding of how the Voynich glyphs were intended to be constructed. The discussion is already much past the curve-line system as suggested by Brian back in 2015, but still needs systematization.
3. You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.. Although the result of the discussion is still indefinite, what is essential is that we were able to locate very close imagery parallels. So far, the thread has been lost in the poetic Latin, of which "pro salute hominum" happened to be the most clear, but (alas!) the most useless portion.
4. Relentless attacks at f116v, and respective forum discussions, led to a You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. of the last line of that folio. Unfortunately, the interpretation still waits to be encouraged or disproved. A middle high german expert is #1 on my list of persons wanted into Voynich studies.
5. Voynich mnemonics. The concept as introduced by Koen was a totally new light for me in which to look at "strange" Voynich plants. Don't know if things were looked at from this perspective earlier, but IMO that's an important consideration.
Finally,
Voynich Advances:
The only one that I can think of - but a real one - is the You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. (thx Yulia for parsing through the old books). The discussion has been an excellent team work and a demonstration of what a team discussion can achieve. Mind there's still oladabas there.
***
I may have mentioned many of things which I've authored or participated in. Hope I'll avoid the shower of critique though, cause that's because I naturally remember what I've done but I may even be unaware of what other people have. So your additions are welcome.
And may the forthcoming year 2017 be no less fruitful - "as muckle better as he can".
(14-12-2016, 06:24 AM)-JKP- Wrote: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.[quote pid='9755' dateline='1481674532']
That's modern English. They didn't speak or spell English like this in the 15th century.
If you change even one letter, then the gematria number of the word changes and no longer matches the same word in Stellar's system.
For example, I've seen the word "money" in 16th-century documents, but only rarely and I haven't seen it in any 15th-century documents. It's a French word (and spelled variously), not English and certainly not spelled "money". In those days, they usually spoke of silver or ducats or pence or specific quantities rather than using a general term like "money".
Changing it to French spelling completely changes the gematria value, which means it wouldn't apply to the VMS word. Same with many of the other "decoded" words.
[/quote]
There is nothing that suggests to me it is factually a C15th manuscript in content and the language would be more modern. Of all the languages people have looked at in modern times they do seem to find contemporaneous word structure, again something I will be looking at in my hypothesis.
Description:
This nymph is the second figure in the central "canal" in the image on the f80r. Standing (going) in the water (or some liquid), she is dressed in the transparent (wet?) skirt, she holds some object in her hand, which looks similar to tongs or pincers.
In this thread, I want to make a list of possible interpretations concerning the instrument and this person, in general.
One or a few men made a supposition that this nymph may represent a woman in childbirth, and the tool in her hand is an obstetric forceps (after the second part of 16 c.). Another thought was made that this thing and the nymph could have some allegorical meaning.
I also have a few suppositions as for this item. Let's begin from the "transparent skirt". I think it depicts a bathing clothes, just wet.
For example, as in bathing of You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.:
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Now, about the thing similar to You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. or pincers. There are quite many kinds of tongs: blacksmith's tongs for coal (fireplace tongs, fire-tongs), goldsmith's tongs, dental tongs, ice tongs, etc.
Tongs themselves are very old instrument:
1). Ancient Greek: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view..
HEPHAISTOS (Hephaestus) was the Olympian god of fire, smiths, craftsmen, metalworking, stonemasonry and sculpture. He was depicted as a bearded man holding a hammer and tongs - the tools of a smith, and, sometimes, riding a donkey.
2).The Bible:
Isaiah 6:6 "Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar."
3). Pirkei Avot:
"According to Pirkei Avot, a classical Jewish text of the third century of the common era, the first pair of You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. were created by God right before God rested in the Seventh Day. The reasoning is that a blacksmith must use a pair of tongs in order to fashion a brand new pair of tongs. Accordingly, God must have provided humankind with the first pair of tongs."
Pirkei Avot, chapter 5, mishnah 6 says:
Quote:Ten things were created at twilight of Shabbat eve. These are: the mouth of the earth [that swallowed Korach]; the mouth of [Miriam's] well; the mouth of [Balaam's] ass; the rainbow; the manna; [Moses'] staff; the shamir; the writing, the inscription and the tablets [of the Ten Commandments]. Some say also the burial place of Moses and the ram of our father Abraham. And some say also the spirits of destruction as well as the original tongs, for tongs are made with tongs.
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5). Alchemists (women and men) with tongs on images, 16c.:
Anna Maria Zieglerin (ca. 1550–1575)
A few versions representing alchemy.
Alchemist's instruments:
6). You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. and the devil.
7). You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.
8). Use in tortures (without images )
In conclusion: Most likely, men don't fit this story. A woman with obstetric forceps can be worthy of note, if the VMs is a work written not earlier, than in the second part of the 16 century. On the other side, people, including alchemists, used fire-tongs from the earliest times, bathing (canals, liquids, lakes) in this case can mean You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view., You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view., for example.