Morten St George Theory

[Morten St. George]

I've found something in Wikipedia that lends support to my theory that the Europe-related content of the VMS dates from the 13th century (when Cathars migrated to the Americas) rather than from the 15th century. Specifically, I've found the following drawing that is dated circa 1200:



Let's now compare that with the following VMS drawings:



The first one (sun with rays) reminds of the ca. 1200 sun with rays. The second one (moon with stars) reminds me of the ca. 1200 moon with stars. And the third one (odd design) reminds me of the ca. 1200 odd-looking hat.

Of major relevance, however, is what Wikipedia has to say about the ca. 1200 drawing:

"It is very uncommon for an illustration of the high medieval period to show Sun and Moon with faces; this is a direct precedent of a convention that would become widespread only in the Renaissance period, some 300 years later (e.g. Nuremberg Chronicles, 1493)."

I take it that "very uncommon" implies that the monks of northern Italy were not busy churning out drawings of the Sun and Moon with faces during the period 1404 - 1438 (the radiocarbon range of the VMS). Note that the Sun and Moon with faces make repeated appearances in the VMS so, for the VMS authors, it clearly had some cultural or religious significance not otherwise seen in Europe during the early 15th century.

Conclusion: Authorship of the VMS in 15th-century Italy (or anywhere else in Europe) has now become even more incredulous.