This is pretty interesting. So if the VM image somehow refers to the cultivation of vines, it possibly refers to medieval practice, but then likely in Italy
We would probably not expect an oak - a prunable tree with shallow roots is preferred to give more resources to the vine. Also I haven't seen any mention of oak. One alternative is fig, which may have somewhat oak-like leaves, but that's a stretch.
I also haven't seen any reference to the tree being pierced. It must be much simpler and safer to tie the vine to the tree with whatever rope you have available. However, it does appear that the "vine on tree" motif had a strong potential for metaphor. In the case of the woodcut, there may be the idea of a ring (marriage). Or it may refer to the consummation of said marriage. Or it may simply reinforce the thought of an unbreakable bond, both parts of the union becoming one.
It's not unlikely that some kind of plant symbolism underlies the Voynich drawing, given the bizarre shape of the root structure.
I wonder if we can somehow find medieval images of the agricultural practice of growing grapes on living trees instead of dead supports. If it exists anywhere, then probably something like Italian "labors of the month".
We would probably not expect an oak - a prunable tree with shallow roots is preferred to give more resources to the vine. Also I haven't seen any mention of oak. One alternative is fig, which may have somewhat oak-like leaves, but that's a stretch.
I also haven't seen any reference to the tree being pierced. It must be much simpler and safer to tie the vine to the tree with whatever rope you have available. However, it does appear that the "vine on tree" motif had a strong potential for metaphor. In the case of the woodcut, there may be the idea of a ring (marriage). Or it may refer to the consummation of said marriage. Or it may simply reinforce the thought of an unbreakable bond, both parts of the union becoming one.
It's not unlikely that some kind of plant symbolism underlies the Voynich drawing, given the bizarre shape of the root structure.
I wonder if we can somehow find medieval images of the agricultural practice of growing grapes on living trees instead of dead supports. If it exists anywhere, then probably something like Italian "labors of the month".