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+--- Thread: Zodiac 101 (/thread-5365.html)
Zodiac 101 - pjburkshire - 14-02-2026
I would like to learn about astrology so I can have a better understanding of the Zodiac pages in the Voynich Manuscript. I know Zodiac "Sign" is based on date of birth but I am clueless about Zodiac "Houses" and Zodiac "Stations" and a lot of other terms. Can anyone point me to a good (free) online source to learn astrology/zodiac that is based on historical beliefs and not mysticism leaning?
I know the Zodiac "Sign" is based on date of birth, where the sun is at the time of birth. Gives temperament, motivations, strengths, etc.
I believe Zodiac "House" adds time of day and place of birth. I'm still confused about the 12 "Houses". No idea about Zodiac "Stations". How were "Houses" and "Stations" generally illustrated in the early 15th century?
Each of the circles of Quire 9, f67r1 and f67r2 has 12 sections. I wonder if these could be the 12 Zodiac "Houses". I don't know why they would put "Houses" in Quire 9 before the "Signs".
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Or, maybe the "baskets" the nymphs are in on the regular Zodiac "Sign" pages are Zodiac "Houses" but they don't line up to 12. Not all Zodiac nymphs are in "baskets". Nymph in a "basket" or not in a "basket" must have some meaning.
RE: Zodiac 101 - Juan_Sali - 14-02-2026
And old book from 1659, (maybe too much information) :
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RE: Zodiac 101 - Bluetoes101 - 15-02-2026
I would like info on this also so thanks for asking
. Something else to consider with Zodiac stuff, that might be relevant to the VMS is medicinal use and Alchemy (and others).
People believed in certain properties or (more whimsical) powers associated with each (I guess this is still sort of a thing). For example books on distillation would very often have cosmos/astro sections, to determine the best times to XYZ (make or take). Given the amount of "herbs" in the VMS I think these subsections are worth spending a little time on. I must admit though I am also in the dark where "houses" and "stations" etc come in.
RE: Zodiac 101 - pjburkshire - 15-02-2026
(14-02-2026, 11:39 PM)Juan_Sali Wrote: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.
And old book from 1659, (maybe too much information) :
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Thanks for the link! That is a lot of information!
I did find two Figures of the 12 "Houses of Heaven".
Document page 33, software page 57
Document page 35, software page 59
But both are the diamond shape. I was hoping to find an old illustration of the circle in 12 "slices". I've found lots of contemporary images but no old one. The description of a circle with 12 slices made me think of f67r1 and f67r2 but probably not.
I have often wondered why f67r2 uses red ink for text. Don't see that a lot in the Voynich Manuscript so it must have been important for something.
RE: Zodiac 101 - pjburkshire - 15-02-2026
From f70v2 to f73v, I found at least 4 nymphs that seem to be missing stars. I found 4 stars that are not attached to nymphs but are attached to the center images. But, for the most part, there is a one-to-one relationship between nymphs and stars. I think Pisces is showing the nymphs and stars being paired together and the nymphs are getting into baskets. In Taurus the baskets start to be discontinued and it is just nymphs and stars. Taurus is 2 months from Pisces. It could be that the baskets are representing that something is different in those 2 months from the later months.
I don't know if there is any significance to the changes with the strings on the star-like images. It may just be varying artistic expression.
I do not know the meaning of the 3 crowns; f72r3 (Cancer), f72v3 (Leo), f72v1 (Libra). They increase in size. This may indicate that something is growing. I don't know what they would be saying is growing -- other than the crowns. On jasondavies.com the photos are out of order. Leo should be before Libra.
0. Pisces
1. Aries
2. Taurus
3. Gemini
4. Cancer
5. Leo
6. Virgo
7. Libra
8. Scorpio
9. Sagittarius
RE: Zodiac 101 - nablator - 15-02-2026
(15-02-2026, 12:09 PM)pjburkshire Wrote: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.On jasondavies.com the photos are out of order.
Yes, also voynichese.com. It should be v3 v2 v1. You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. fixed the order.
RE: Zodiac 101 - nablator - 15-02-2026
(14-02-2026, 01:51 PM)pjburkshire Wrote: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.How were "Houses" and "Stations" generally illustrated in the early 15th century?
12 houses in Guido Bonatus: Decem continens tractatus Astronomie (1491 edition but Guido Bonatti died before 1300)
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Houses-planets associations are mostly found in astrological texts, not illustrated. For example Pierre d'Ailly, Elucidarium Astronomice Concordie Cum Theologica Et Historica Veritate.
RE: Zodiac 101 - pjburkshire - 15-02-2026
(15-02-2026, 12:53 PM)nablator Wrote: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.(14-02-2026, 01:51 PM)pjburkshire Wrote: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.How were "Houses" and "Stations" generally illustrated in the early 15th century?
12 houses in Guido, Bonatus: Decem continens tractatus Astronomie (1491 edition)
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But houses-planets associations are mostly found in astrological texts, not illustrated.
Yes, thank you. For years I have been trying to convince people that the Voynich Manuscript is more medical than astrological.
RE: Zodiac 101 - pjburkshire - 16-02-2026
Baskets.
I'm still trying to figure out the baskets. I think the baskets have significance. I don't think they were just for decoration. Some people call them tubs. "Tubs" sounds like there should be water and I see no water here.
The baskets are only in the first 3 Zodiac "Signs". Another thing that is odd is that 2 of the 3 Zodiac "Signs" with baskets are duplicated. People have often wondered why Aries and Taurus each has 2 pages and all the other "Signs" are 1 page each. I'm wondering if the reason for the baskets is the same as the reason for why these two "Signs" were duplicated.
0. Pisces (two fish swimming in opposite directions):
On f70v2, in the inner circle, all the baskets are on their sides and not all nymphs are fully in the baskets. In the outer circle, the baskets are upright and the nymphs are in the baskets. For the most part, the nymphs are not touching the stars. Mostly, the nymphs are connected to the stars by the strings.
There are 10 nymphs in the inner circle and 19 nymphs in the outer circle for a total of 29 nymphs for Pisces.
The Pisces symbol also has 2 stars on strings.
1a. The next zodiac period - Aries (The Goat):
On f70v1, all the nymphs are in baskets and some of the strings seem to be shorter. Three stars have entirely lost the strings. One has a really fat string.
There are 5 nymphs in the inner circle and 10 nymphs in the outer circle for a total of 15 nymphs on the first Aries page.
1b. Still in the same zodiac period - Aries (The Goat):
On f71r, all the nymphs are in baskets and the strings are mostly gone. Three have a tiny bit of string. Both the nymphs and the baskets seem to have more color on this page. They are different colors and different designs. I don't know if the extra color is significant or if the artist just had more ink that day.
Again there are 5 nymphs in the inner circle and 10 nymphs in the outer circle for a total of 15 nymphs on the second Aries page giving Aries a total of 30 nymphs.
2a. The next zodiac period - Taurus (The Bull)
On f71v, all the nymphs are in baskets and the strings are mostly gone. One nymph has a tiny bit of string.
Again there are 5 nymphs in the inner circle and 10 nymphs in the outer circle for a total of 15 nymphs on the first Taurus page.
2b. Still in the same zodiac period - Taurus (The Bull)
On f72r1, all 5 of the nymphs in the inner circle are in baskets but none of the 10 nymphs in the outer circle are in baskets. No long strings.
There are a total of 15 nymphs on the second Taurus page so a total of 30 nymphs for Taurus.
What changed? Why did the baskets go away in the outer circle?
Since all of the first Taurus page has the nymphs in baskets but on the second Taurus page only the inner circle has the nymphs in baskets, I'm assuming that means that the inner circle should be read as before the outer circle. Like a DVD, not a vinyl record.
At first I thought maybe the baskets had something to do with the Zodiac "Houses". I no longer think that. There are 12 Zodiac "Houses" that are generally represented in a circle or diamond starting at the 9 o'clock position on the left and going counter-clockwise. When Zodiac "Signs" are presented in a circle, they also traditionally were read counter-clockwise but I see a lot of contemporary illustrations that go clockwise and they often start at the 12 o'clock position at the top.
Zodiac "Signs" are determined by date of birth. Zodiac "Houses" are determined by time and place of birth.
Some people think each nymph represents one Zodiac "Degree". I'm still learning about Zodiac "Degrees".
Is there an order to the nymphs? Is there a 1st nymph, 2nd nymph, etc.? Or, are they all of equal level? If they are equal, why are there differences between inner circles and outer circles? If there is an order, where does it start? Is it really inner circle to outer circle? Where on a circle does it start? 9 o'clock? 12 o'clock? Does the order go counter-clockwise or clockwise?
RE: Zodiac 101 - Jorge_Stolfi - 16-02-2026
(16-02-2026, 01:11 PM)pjburkshire Wrote: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.I'm still trying to figure out the baskets. I think the baskets have significance.
If you care, You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. is my theory about those tubs/basket/barrels. Those very convenient Pillsbury Nymph-In-A-Can products.
(But be warned, it is in a heretic thread. Tinted safety glasses and gloves are recommended.)
All the best, --stolfi