As regards the Leo with its tail through the legs and up, apart from the two examples already shown in this thread, there are plenty more, also in 15th C woodcuts or engravings.
Here's one of several:
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That's why I see no need to invoke the more complicated suggestion that the one in the Voynich MS derives directly from a very old source where a palm tree was mistakenly changed into its tail.
Unless, of course, this is true for all these Leo illustrations, but that then eliminates the direct copying from an old source.
Edit:
Here's a Leo with the tail up *and* a tree (though not a palm tree)
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Here's one of several:
You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.
That's why I see no need to invoke the more complicated suggestion that the one in the Voynich MS derives directly from a very old source where a palm tree was mistakenly changed into its tail.
Unless, of course, this is true for all these Leo illustrations, but that then eliminates the direct copying from an old source.
Edit:
Here's a Leo with the tail up *and* a tree (though not a palm tree)
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