[split] (lack of) scribal mistakes / corrections

[-JKP-]

On the one hand, I am quite sure there are scribal errors in the VMS, there are things that LOOK like errors (are out of character with the rest of the textual patterns) and there are places where actual corrections can be seen.

On the other hand, Jewish scribes were taught to copy the Torah WITHOUT ERRORS. They were simply not permitted to make errors. Out it goes and start again.

So... where does the VMS fit? I don't know. There are errors that may be identifiable, and then there are errors that would not be evident unless one understood the structure or meaning behind the text.

I don't get the feeling that the number of errors in the VMS is large (there's a fair degree of consistency). The feeling I get is that it may have been pre-written (pre-ciphered?) and then copied. It's fairly orderly and tidy. It seems like almost an impossible task to create the rosettes page in one go. Getting things to fit comfortably in a circle (and in a group of circles) is not easy. Usually it requires rough sketches first.