Jupiter

[MarcoP]

In the context of the Persian / Zoroastrian astrological cosmogony, the curve could correspond to the eclipse dragon Gochihr (sometimes also identified with the milky way). The connection with the moon is obvious, since the moon plays such a fundamental role in eclipses.

According to some interpretations, the head of this evil dragon is identified with the seven planets. But the relevant Bundahishn passage does not seem to support this interpetation (You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.). Anyway, it's interesting that the seven planets are among the evil forces in this myths.

Thanks for this MarcoP, the Dragon is a very interesting connection!
While I was playing around with the online equatorium I posted in another thread, I noticed that a part of the Draco constellation (Caput Draconis) was used to calculate the latitude of the moon, using strings.

JKP, this also ties in to your observations about geomancy, because Caput Draconis is one of the geomantic figures.

I wonder if the star cluster we see in the Voynich illustration might be somehow related to all of this...

Hi VViews,
I agree that the subject is very interesting! I would like to read more about these “string calculators”, if you could provide a link. Please note that “caput draconis” is different from the Draco constellation. The constellation is close to the North pole of the “heavenly sphere”, while the head and tail of the Eclipse Dragon (caput and cauda draconis) are the You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view., i.e. the two points in which the apparent orbit of the Moon intersects the ecliptic (the apparent orbit of the Sun). 


Since geomantic figures are made up of exactly 4 rows each containing one or two points, there are exactly 4 figures having seven points (rubeus, albus, letitia, tristitia). The relative position of the points is of fundamental importance: it is the only way in which geomantic figures with the same number of points can be distinguished from each other (see Agrippa's illustraion posted by JKP).


The seven stars in f68r3 seem to me to be arranged similarly to traditional illustrations of the Pleiades: one at the center and the other six more or less regularly around it. I think this is one of the the many old observations about the Voynich manuscript that are still around because they are well founded on the available evidence.

These images are from a You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. and You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view..


The "seven planets" idea, or the possibility of other asterisms such as Ursa Major, are certainly worth pursuing. It would be interesting to find more medieval visual parallels both for the seven star and the overall structure of the diagram).