Three-section orbs

[R. Sale]

While the preference is for three-section orbs, there is some question as to what those three sections are. An alternative interpretation of the orb illustrated in Oresme's cosmos (BNF Fr. 565) does not appear to match the three elements interpretation as well as it should. The bottom portion is clearly water, but the upper part may well be a division between inhabited lands and unexplored lands.

What is clear is that there is water at the bottom of Oresme (565).  And that is also true of the illustration in Oresme's BNF Fr. 1082 (below).
This appears to be land on top, water on the bottom. However the land in 1082 is not differentiated like the land in 565.






Also referenced in the first posting is Harley 334 f.29, with water at the bottom.
This ms is attributed to Gautier de Metz, second quarter of 15th century in Paris.
Paris is also a hot spot for scallop-shell patterned cloud bands.

And there is a illustration from the same source f. 34v with water at the bottom.




Whatever the information supplied by the labels and text of the VMs cosmos of f68v, the structure of the cosmic diagram as a whole is still a close match to Oresme (565).