15-02-2022, 08:16 PM
Could this be attributed to a sort of sophisticated trickery on the part of the VMs artist? What was drawn is a standard T-O, but the words are inverted.
Then, if the opposite version is considered, an *inverted* T-O and standard words, then that would be the interior of the VMs cosmos. This unusual depiction of cosmic structure is best compared with the cosmic representations of BNF Fr. 565 and Harley 334 - both produced in Paris in the first half of the 1400's. These pictorial versions of the inverted T-O structure, with the lower half drawn and painted to represent water, tend more toward being elemental representations of the Earth, rather than being geographical maps of the continents.
At the same time, the preferred *elemental* representation of the earth was adapted to the poly-concentric structure of standard cosmic illustrations of that era. Three elements encircle earth, then Luna, the planets (sun), and the heavens. The differences in comparison with the VMs structure are significant. The presence of 43 undulations is a clear connection, but the interruption of the eight curved spokes creates ambiguity.
Could it be that the image with the inverted words derives from the cosmic representation? Has anyone determined what these vords are and whether they are found elsewhere in the text?
Then, if the opposite version is considered, an *inverted* T-O and standard words, then that would be the interior of the VMs cosmos. This unusual depiction of cosmic structure is best compared with the cosmic representations of BNF Fr. 565 and Harley 334 - both produced in Paris in the first half of the 1400's. These pictorial versions of the inverted T-O structure, with the lower half drawn and painted to represent water, tend more toward being elemental representations of the Earth, rather than being geographical maps of the continents.
At the same time, the preferred *elemental* representation of the earth was adapted to the poly-concentric structure of standard cosmic illustrations of that era. Three elements encircle earth, then Luna, the planets (sun), and the heavens. The differences in comparison with the VMs structure are significant. The presence of 43 undulations is a clear connection, but the interruption of the eight curved spokes creates ambiguity.
Could it be that the image with the inverted words derives from the cosmic representation? Has anyone determined what these vords are and whether they are found elsewhere in the text?