Examples of zodiac symbols that are nibbling:
One that might be of special interest is on the Basilica de San Isidoro, Leon, south façade, c. 11th century (although some of the symbols look like they might have been restored).
It's a carving. The long-tailed Aries ram has his head up with his nose in a bunch of plants. It's a somewhat crude carving, so it's hard to know if we're supposed to assume it is nibbling or if the plant is an embellishment, but the other symbols don't have the plant. Cancer is more crablike than crayfishlike. Scorpius resembles a frog.
This was originally a Pagan temple, then a monastery, then rededicated to St. Isidore.
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What might be even more interesting is that the north portal of Chartres may have been inspired by the Leon Basilica, because it has the ram standing on hind legs nibbling the tree—it looks like a more expertly carved interpretation of the Leon ram. Also interesting is that it has a crayfish Cancer and lizard or tarask Scorpius. Capricorn is the ancient goat-fish.
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The Gorleston Psalter has Aries nibbling and bumpy terrain. Scorpius is a dragon or fancy-headed lizard. Also unusual is the smily-faced Leo (VMS critters are rarely fierce and even the fierce ones don't have claws). It's c. 1320. It has a number of things in common with the VMS.
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Hebrew manuscript Add 224113 has just a suggestion of terrain, but Aries is nibbling (Taurus and Capricorn have trees). C. 1322.
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Book of hours for Bonne of Luxembourg has Aries nibbling and Taurus is paired. Cancer is a crayfish but Sagittarius is a centaur and Gemini hiding behind a shield (a different branch of the traditions). c. 1347.
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Hausbuch MD 2 Tübinger - both Aries and Taurus are nibbling. Cancer is a crayfish, Virgo is sitting, Sagitarrius has legs (but it's a satyr, another tradition).
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Graz MS.286 - both Aries and Taurus are nibbling, Cancer is a crayfish, Sagittarius has legs, Gemini twins are embracing. The manuscript was compiled over a number of centuries, this part may have been added in the early 1400s. Notice the fish have long snouts.
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Latin 1156B Book hours, use of Rome, c. 1450 - Aries and capricorn are nibbling, Cancer is a crayfish, Gemini twins are embracing, Taurus has a long neck.
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Codex Pal. Germ 298 c. mid-1400s - Taurus is nibbling, it has grassy terrain, Cancer is a crayfish.
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It's amazing how it takes only minutes to give away years of research.
One that might be of special interest is on the Basilica de San Isidoro, Leon, south façade, c. 11th century (although some of the symbols look like they might have been restored).
It's a carving. The long-tailed Aries ram has his head up with his nose in a bunch of plants. It's a somewhat crude carving, so it's hard to know if we're supposed to assume it is nibbling or if the plant is an embellishment, but the other symbols don't have the plant. Cancer is more crablike than crayfishlike. Scorpius resembles a frog.
This was originally a Pagan temple, then a monastery, then rededicated to St. Isidore.
---------
What might be even more interesting is that the north portal of Chartres may have been inspired by the Leon Basilica, because it has the ram standing on hind legs nibbling the tree—it looks like a more expertly carved interpretation of the Leon ram. Also interesting is that it has a crayfish Cancer and lizard or tarask Scorpius. Capricorn is the ancient goat-fish.
--------
The Gorleston Psalter has Aries nibbling and bumpy terrain. Scorpius is a dragon or fancy-headed lizard. Also unusual is the smily-faced Leo (VMS critters are rarely fierce and even the fierce ones don't have claws). It's c. 1320. It has a number of things in common with the VMS.
---------
Hebrew manuscript Add 224113 has just a suggestion of terrain, but Aries is nibbling (Taurus and Capricorn have trees). C. 1322.
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Book of hours for Bonne of Luxembourg has Aries nibbling and Taurus is paired. Cancer is a crayfish but Sagittarius is a centaur and Gemini hiding behind a shield (a different branch of the traditions). c. 1347.
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Hausbuch MD 2 Tübinger - both Aries and Taurus are nibbling. Cancer is a crayfish, Virgo is sitting, Sagitarrius has legs (but it's a satyr, another tradition).
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Graz MS.286 - both Aries and Taurus are nibbling, Cancer is a crayfish, Sagittarius has legs, Gemini twins are embracing. The manuscript was compiled over a number of centuries, this part may have been added in the early 1400s. Notice the fish have long snouts.
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Latin 1156B Book hours, use of Rome, c. 1450 - Aries and capricorn are nibbling, Cancer is a crayfish, Gemini twins are embracing, Taurus has a long neck.
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Codex Pal. Germ 298 c. mid-1400s - Taurus is nibbling, it has grassy terrain, Cancer is a crayfish.
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It's amazing how it takes only minutes to give away years of research.