23-04-2017, 08:11 AM
It's an interesting observation. The bottom margin messes with many of the plant drawings, but not with the text.
Now the conservation of space argument only applies to the drawings. Many plant pages have only a couple of paragraphs on them. In some other herbals, the text runs on like a massive block and drawings are inserted in specific spots that are left open.
Now we know with near certainty that the text was added after the drawings. It would also be customary for drawings to be done by a different person. If drawings get in trouble, it's usually at the bottom.
So my guess is that the persons who needed to add the text were instructed to make sure it fit well on the page, and leave a bottom margin.
It could also be that they were copying a pre-written text, perhaps from another medium, and they mimicked the way it was divided. This could be another manuscript, or clay tablets wher the text was written out first or whatever. They started on top just to be sure, but since the source medium was of consistent size, were always left with a bottom margin, or more if there was little text.
Now the conservation of space argument only applies to the drawings. Many plant pages have only a couple of paragraphs on them. In some other herbals, the text runs on like a massive block and drawings are inserted in specific spots that are left open.
Now we know with near certainty that the text was added after the drawings. It would also be customary for drawings to be done by a different person. If drawings get in trouble, it's usually at the bottom.
So my guess is that the persons who needed to add the text were instructed to make sure it fit well on the page, and leave a bottom margin.
It could also be that they were copying a pre-written text, perhaps from another medium, and they mimicked the way it was divided. This could be another manuscript, or clay tablets wher the text was written out first or whatever. They started on top just to be sure, but since the source medium was of consistent size, were always left with a bottom margin, or more if there was little text.