19-07-2016, 01:56 PM
(This post was last modified: 19-07-2016, 01:57 PM by Diane.
Edit Reason: clarity
)
Two small points (and thanks to Koen for the acknowledgements)
1. Motifs such as flowing water depicted by the zig-zag which was the motif adopted for the hieroglyph "n" (for water) nicely equated with the Latin "m" (mare). Egyptian mores affected early western monasticism, so we sometimes find the same way of depicting water in the early (Irish-Egyptian) influenced centres. Bobbio for one, and after it Piacenza (where, rather later, the oft-cited example of gallows letters would be written).
2. As decorative patterns a great many of the same occur - often together in the same border- on metal work from hither Asia. That's not really so surprising, since many things about the astronomical 'ladies' folio also point to that region.
3. I'm strongly inclined to think, though I cannot prove, that the pattern around the roundel on f70v2 is actually a notation system, not a decorative pattern as such. I believe it probably has something to do with the mariners' use of the stars known as the "Guards" (circumpolar stars) to measure the hours and to determine the position of the Pole star when it was obscured. As I think I've said somewhere already, I don't believe the two fishes were *Originally* intended for Pisces, but the images were re-defined, and made to serve as a calendar. Since the motifs in the centre do not correspond with the series of the zodiac - a wild 'red bull' with antelope-like appearance, two goats, no sheep etc. etc. do not a zodiac make. But someone did their very best to make them serve as a calendar.
1. Motifs such as flowing water depicted by the zig-zag which was the motif adopted for the hieroglyph "n" (for water) nicely equated with the Latin "m" (mare). Egyptian mores affected early western monasticism, so we sometimes find the same way of depicting water in the early (Irish-Egyptian) influenced centres. Bobbio for one, and after it Piacenza (where, rather later, the oft-cited example of gallows letters would be written).
2. As decorative patterns a great many of the same occur - often together in the same border- on metal work from hither Asia. That's not really so surprising, since many things about the astronomical 'ladies' folio also point to that region.
3. I'm strongly inclined to think, though I cannot prove, that the pattern around the roundel on f70v2 is actually a notation system, not a decorative pattern as such. I believe it probably has something to do with the mariners' use of the stars known as the "Guards" (circumpolar stars) to measure the hours and to determine the position of the Pole star when it was obscured. As I think I've said somewhere already, I don't believe the two fishes were *Originally* intended for Pisces, but the images were re-defined, and made to serve as a calendar. Since the motifs in the centre do not correspond with the series of the zodiac - a wild 'red bull' with antelope-like appearance, two goats, no sheep etc. etc. do not a zodiac make. But someone did their very best to make them serve as a calendar.