08-04-2016, 09:07 PM
Rene, if the VM is the only surviving witness of a lost type, it's not that straight forward to just point to an alternative. However, I am trying to be as consistent as possible in the Greek cultural background - even though I am now less certain of the specific historical background than I once was, like I explained above.
If we assume that MS Beinecke 408 is a unifying copy of a collection of different sources, this becomes even more complex.
Add to that the possible background of intercontinental trade, and matters are even more complicated.
It has to be picked apart piece by piece, which is what I'm trying to do - but I fully admit that I have to leave many questions unanswered. But then again, who doesn't.
The Balneis MS is an interesting example which I hadn't studied yet, but I think the resemblances are superficial. I do agree that the Christian references are relatively sparce, and that this manuscript is refreshingly (no pun intended) practical. This illustrates well what Vviews said about our impression of medieval manuscripts being outdated.
One important difference is that the naked people in the Balneis have a reason to be naked: they are either bathing, about to bathe, or naked for medical reasons. Other people are clothed in recognizable full medieval dress.
Many Voynich nymphs are in the water as well, but many others are just... nude. You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. is one example. It seems that these nymphs are nude more by convention than by necessity.
Additionally, the sparse Christian symbolism in the Balneis just looks, well, Christian. Some examples:
You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.
You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. image, one of the red buildings is topped with a cross (church?)
You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view., the man himself, JC.
Finally, the Balneis people are random people bathing, while many of the Voynich nymphs are individualized with attributes, but in such a way that they are hard to interpret in Medieval Latin terms.
If we assume that MS Beinecke 408 is a unifying copy of a collection of different sources, this becomes even more complex.
Add to that the possible background of intercontinental trade, and matters are even more complicated.
It has to be picked apart piece by piece, which is what I'm trying to do - but I fully admit that I have to leave many questions unanswered. But then again, who doesn't.
The Balneis MS is an interesting example which I hadn't studied yet, but I think the resemblances are superficial. I do agree that the Christian references are relatively sparce, and that this manuscript is refreshingly (no pun intended) practical. This illustrates well what Vviews said about our impression of medieval manuscripts being outdated.
One important difference is that the naked people in the Balneis have a reason to be naked: they are either bathing, about to bathe, or naked for medical reasons. Other people are clothed in recognizable full medieval dress.
Many Voynich nymphs are in the water as well, but many others are just... nude. You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. is one example. It seems that these nymphs are nude more by convention than by necessity.
Additionally, the sparse Christian symbolism in the Balneis just looks, well, Christian. Some examples:
You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.
You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. image, one of the red buildings is topped with a cross (church?)
You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view., the man himself, JC.
Finally, the Balneis people are random people bathing, while many of the Voynich nymphs are individualized with attributes, but in such a way that they are hard to interpret in Medieval Latin terms.