The Thing as compared to the Other Thing

[Anton]

The first nymph has a loose uncovered hair which was the frequent indication of an unmerried girl, the second one, it seems, has some coiffure (picked hair), the third and fourth nymphs have some headresses and veils, which can speak of her higher status.

Well spotted.

[Antonio García Jiménez]

So, they are girls that if we lived in the fifteenth century we would meet on the street.

Sorry, but Erwin Panofsky, an expert in iconography, said a long time ago that they were astral spirits. It's fun to make assumptions, but I think a little consideration to the experts doesn't hurt.

[Koen G]

Antonio, I agree that the nymphs cannot be interpreted as literal human beings, but I don't understand your reasoning. Headgear and hair style denotes status, also in allegorical or otherwise symbolical figures.

[-JKP-]

Antonio, we have frequently posted that the nymphs might be "anima" or "souls" or "persona" rather than actual women.

[Antonio García Jiménez]

We can be turning this around in saecula saeculorum.  We agree that the ladies are no real women, but both of you say that they are nymphs. I say no. I say that they are astral spirits as Panofsky said. A nymph is not exactly an astral spirit, but a divine spirit, which is not the same.

This would not be of much importance if it were not for the fact that it prevents a correct interpretation of the VM's iconography

What I don't understand, Koen, is that you, who have contributed so much to correctly interpret the thing, which is clearly a spindle, have opened this thread

[Koen G]

We call them nymphs because this is the conventional term among Voynich researchers. This does not imply any interpretation. And I opened this thread because clearly both things are related, so any explanation that explains only one is incomplete.

[ReneZ]

They could also be purely ornamental or decorative.

[-JKP-]

There was a lot of decoration and drollery going on in medieval margins (and sometimes within the text)... flowers, fish, dragons, snails fighting knights, monkeys playing drums, birds attacking foxes. So I suppose we should be open to this possibility also.

The VMS "feels" like the drawings have some purpose, they are highly structured, but I guess we shouldn't assume so until we know more.

[Koen G]

Even if one were to place the human figures entirely within the drollery genre, it would have to be explained why it avoids most of its known tropes.

[Pardis Motiee]

Can the things be some sort of blade ?