03-09-2026, 09:35 AM
It’s fine by me if you see rocks and waves, but I don’t see any of that; I think the most natural thing would be for you to start a joint thread and share your take on the Rosettes. You surely won't do it, because you prefer people to read what you write—and what better place than here?
The Rosettes foldout is a very difficult sheet to understand because, for its creator, it represented an abstract idea—a visualization of their conception of the universe. If we wish to understand that abstract idea, it is necessary to study very carefully not only medieval astronomy but also—and above all—astrology. Lynn Thorndike, a renowned author who wrote a History of Magic and Experimental Science stated that, in those days, wisdom and astrology were almost synonymous.
The strongest clue we have for correctly interpreting that sheet is the scallop-shaped band visible on the central rosette, representing the cosmic boundary. Furthermore, we see those sumptuous vessels sheltered by a canopy of stars. And some of those luxurious vessels are almost identical to others we see in the pharmacy section, alongside roots and leaves. I believe the metaphor is clear to anyone with common sense: the precious essences of those medicinal herbs are produced by the stars—the virtus caelestis, as Saint Albert the Great called it.
The Rosettes foldout is a very difficult sheet to understand because, for its creator, it represented an abstract idea—a visualization of their conception of the universe. If we wish to understand that abstract idea, it is necessary to study very carefully not only medieval astronomy but also—and above all—astrology. Lynn Thorndike, a renowned author who wrote a History of Magic and Experimental Science stated that, in those days, wisdom and astrology were almost synonymous.
The strongest clue we have for correctly interpreting that sheet is the scallop-shaped band visible on the central rosette, representing the cosmic boundary. Furthermore, we see those sumptuous vessels sheltered by a canopy of stars. And some of those luxurious vessels are almost identical to others we see in the pharmacy section, alongside roots and leaves. I believe the metaphor is clear to anyone with common sense: the precious essences of those medicinal herbs are produced by the stars—the virtus caelestis, as Saint Albert the Great called it.