Then, if "it is a sign of the importance of medieval astrology in understanding the book.", what part of the VMs gives the strongest indications relating to astrology? It's the VMs Zodiac sequence, not the Rosettes diagram.
The typical zodiac sequence of the European, early 15th C. would generally begin with the house of Aries, the ram. The VMs begins with the house of Pisces. So right off, there's a distinctive factor. Is this structure a "genuine cultural artifact" or is it part of a tactical scheme?
Pisces is the first of five sequential zodiac houses in the VMs Zodiac sequence where the occupants of each house have been paired. Quite the trick with Aries and Taurus; simple and effective. Perhaps the number 'five' is important. Perhaps 'pairing' back to Deuteronomy is important. A pairing of paired aquatic animals, and two pairs of land animals. Pairs in historical heraldry. Pairing provides the paradigm for interpretation. The evidence is in the VMs illustrations, in the VMs Zodiac, in VMs White Aries, a red hat and blue stripes. The confirmation is in the prior placement of the heraldic patterns, an obscure fur and heraldic canting.
The use of this technique, the creation of this structure, reveals a level of sophistication, on the part of the artist, that has no way to function without the necessary, heraldic details being recovered from their obscurity.
The typical zodiac sequence of the European, early 15th C. would generally begin with the house of Aries, the ram. The VMs begins with the house of Pisces. So right off, there's a distinctive factor. Is this structure a "genuine cultural artifact" or is it part of a tactical scheme?
Pisces is the first of five sequential zodiac houses in the VMs Zodiac sequence where the occupants of each house have been paired. Quite the trick with Aries and Taurus; simple and effective. Perhaps the number 'five' is important. Perhaps 'pairing' back to Deuteronomy is important. A pairing of paired aquatic animals, and two pairs of land animals. Pairs in historical heraldry. Pairing provides the paradigm for interpretation. The evidence is in the VMs illustrations, in the VMs Zodiac, in VMs White Aries, a red hat and blue stripes. The confirmation is in the prior placement of the heraldic patterns, an obscure fur and heraldic canting.
The use of this technique, the creation of this structure, reveals a level of sophistication, on the part of the artist, that has no way to function without the necessary, heraldic details being recovered from their obscurity.