New reading hypothesis on f85v (Rosettes): “Paris Kar

[Quentin Da Silva]

I recently revisited the Voynich Manuscript and noticed a marginal note in the top-left corner of folio 85v (the “Rosettes” page), near the figure resembling a sun or rosette, while examining the high-resolution file 1006231.tif.

I am not presenting this as a firm reading, as I am doing this primarily for the enjoyment of the research. However, after zooming in on this area, I think I can make out something resembling “Paris Kar”, or possibly “Par is Kar.”

In my view, this could suggest two interesting possibilities, the second of which particularly intrigues me:

“Paris Kar”, with Kar possibly representing an abbreviation of Karolus / Charles; or

“Par is carus”, if interpreted as Latin, which could perhaps be understood along the lines of “the equal/peer is dear or precious.”

I want to stress that I am treating these only as possible readings rather than definite identifications.

I have attached cropped and enhanced screenshots below.

I would be very interested to hear your thoughts and am happy to discuss this further.

Thanks for reading!

MS 408, fol. 85v.

[ololololo]

The most clearly distinguishable part of this word is read as sach
I can’t see the words you’re talking about.

[JoJo_Jost]

for me it looks like "Rand !"  (edge)  

[Rafal]

I remember seeing some discussion about this faded text on these forums. Unfortunately I cannot find it.

[Ruby Novacna]

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[nablator]

Previous threads:
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[Quentin Da Silva]

I had a simple idea that I thought might be worth testing regarding the faded inscription above/near the sun on the Rosettes foldout.

I showed a magnified view of the inscription to 20 people around me who were not familiar with the Voynich Manuscript, and simply asked them what they thought the first word looked like at first glance.

I used the high-resolution TIFF scan, without relying on an enhanced or reconstructed version of the writing.

The results surprised me:

14/20 read “Paris”
4/20 read something like “Par ici”
2/20 said they could not read anything and that it was simply too illegible

Of course, this is only a small informal experiment and not scientific evidence. I am also aware that “Paris” has already been suggested in earlier discussions on this forum.

What I find interesting, however, is that these people had no previous familiarity with the manuscript, so they were not influenced by the usual Voynich transcriptions or interpretations.

Folio 86v → Manuscrit de Voynich

Sometimes I wonder whether completely non-specialist observers may notice something that experienced researchers no longer see immediately because we are already familiar with the manuscript and its proposed readings.

I am sharing the result simply and transparently because I think it may be worth reproducing.

Has anyone here tried the same experiment with people who know nothing about the Voynich Manuscript?

If you do, I would be very interested to know what answers you get — ideally without suggesting any possible reading to them beforehand.

Thank you.

[ololololo]

First, it would be worth publishing this in You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.. The topic is the same.

Secondly, look atYou are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. (I wanted to attach a link to another thread here, but I lost it )
Thirdly, the fact that people don’t know about VMS makes them subconsciously seek connections with something familiar. They will see Paris here rather than sachy. 
I remember I showed my friend VMS. He said the letters looked like Latin.

Fourthly, if this is Paris, then what conclusions can we draw? This isn’t nit‑picking, it’s just interest. On the Rosettes, I don’t see anything that could be related to Paris.

[Koen G]

I assume the 20 people you asked are French? Your test results certainly tell us something, but not about the VM 

[ololololo]

   
   

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