Well. I could only say what has already been said"
"Otherwise it needs careful and sometimes surprisingly long explaining."
Perhaps I should quit there. But this does emphasize the fact that traditions can and do sometimes translate very poorly from one "culture' to another, leading to that surprisingly long and tedious explanation . The topic of traditional interpretation becomes problematic when the original meaning is lost - whether it's about the time delay in driving past the signs on fence posts, or the ten day run-up to a recent VMs theory, as a contemporary example. Or it's about the presumed medieval distinction and "celebrity" of being a descendant of some mythical creature or personality, back 600 years ago <from our time> and in cultures throughout history.
The Valois line claimed descent from the Luxembourg side of the myth of Melusine through their mother. Jean de Berry claimed possession of the Lusignan castle, which is another significant side of the myth. The event is commemorated in Tres Riches Heures of Jean de Berry. Jean de Berry commissioned the Romance of Melusine. Philip the Good still commemorated Melusine in 1454.
At the time of manufacture in 1430-1440 for Harley 334, the city of Paris was subject to "Valois" influence and control. The tradition that the rulers of Burgundy were descended from this mythical heiress continued throughout this time. There are various relevant depictions of Melusine; some with wings, some without, or as a dragon. Given these conditions at the time of its creation, the primary interpretation of the illustration of Harley 334 f. 57 has to be a representation of Melusine, because that was the semiotic environment of that time and location.
The VMs You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. representation of pond critters then is comparable to the Harley 334 illustration. If the VMs was created during the 1400s, this same semiotic environment was the one that existed.
Only recently, discussion of the VMs 'Mermaid' did not produce any firm conclusion. The possibility of Melusine was floated around but there was nothing conclusive. The connection of Melusine to the Valois ancestry provides a valid basis for traditional interpretation. Are there other options, different interpretations to be considered?
"Otherwise it needs careful and sometimes surprisingly long explaining."
Perhaps I should quit there. But this does emphasize the fact that traditions can and do sometimes translate very poorly from one "culture' to another, leading to that surprisingly long and tedious explanation . The topic of traditional interpretation becomes problematic when the original meaning is lost - whether it's about the time delay in driving past the signs on fence posts, or the ten day run-up to a recent VMs theory, as a contemporary example. Or it's about the presumed medieval distinction and "celebrity" of being a descendant of some mythical creature or personality, back 600 years ago <from our time> and in cultures throughout history.
The Valois line claimed descent from the Luxembourg side of the myth of Melusine through their mother. Jean de Berry claimed possession of the Lusignan castle, which is another significant side of the myth. The event is commemorated in Tres Riches Heures of Jean de Berry. Jean de Berry commissioned the Romance of Melusine. Philip the Good still commemorated Melusine in 1454.
At the time of manufacture in 1430-1440 for Harley 334, the city of Paris was subject to "Valois" influence and control. The tradition that the rulers of Burgundy were descended from this mythical heiress continued throughout this time. There are various relevant depictions of Melusine; some with wings, some without, or as a dragon. Given these conditions at the time of its creation, the primary interpretation of the illustration of Harley 334 f. 57 has to be a representation of Melusine, because that was the semiotic environment of that time and location.
The VMs You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. representation of pond critters then is comparable to the Harley 334 illustration. If the VMs was created during the 1400s, this same semiotic environment was the one that existed.
Only recently, discussion of the VMs 'Mermaid' did not produce any firm conclusion. The possibility of Melusine was floated around but there was nothing conclusive. The connection of Melusine to the Valois ancestry provides a valid basis for traditional interpretation. Are there other options, different interpretations to be considered?