No text, but a visual code

[Antonio García Jiménez]

In previous posts, I've explained why the Rosettes page is a representation of the medieval universe from an astrological perspective. In other words, it aims to depict the astral influences on Earth. I will now focus on a detail that reinforces the interpretation.

  Everyone has seen that astronomical clock in the bottom left corner of the page. It's actually a small volvelle, though without the zodiac signs. Between the two circles are eight groups of three lines each. Each line represents 15 degrees or one hour, resulting in 360 degrees or 24 hours. This is quite clear.

The way the artist of the Rosettes has represented the influences of the spheres is through strokes of varying shapes. One of the most common are those groups of three lines which we see on the two central lateral spheres, both pointing towards the central sphere. And also in the lower right sphere, where we see the groups separated by a point.

The interpretation of this detail is certainly not decorative, given that we have the astronomical clock which clearly tells us the meaning of those lines. What it represents is time, since the movement of the spheres signifies the passage of time.