RE: Khalkotauroi
R. Sale > 24-12-2024, 08:40 PM
@RensZ et al.
While visual trickery may look like ambiguity or individual variation, sometimes it is a bit more obvious.
In VMs White Aries, (f71r), there are two tub patterns at 10 - 11 o'clock that were painted with blue stripes.
What is the orientation of these patterns and how do they compare with standard heraldic examples?
To determine orientation, it is natural to turn the VMs illustration so that the nymphs and the tubs are viewed upright. Thus the stripes on the inner tub are vertical, and the stripes on the outer tub correspond to the heraldic sinister (left-handed) diagonal. This is the 'radial' interpretation.
As an alternative, consider just the patterns themselves in isolation on the page. In this interpretation, both patterns best correspond to the heraldic standard, dexter (right-handed) diagonal. Is this interpretation valid or just an artifact?
Note that the nymph in the inner circle is also wearing a large, reddish hat.
What do you know about the origins of the Catholic tradition of the cardinal's red galero? It was instituted by Pope Innocent IV, who was Sinibaldo Fieschi. The Fieschi armorial insignia is 'bendy, argent et azure - blue and white stripes on a dexter diagonal - the same as the secondary interpretation above. Furthermore, Pope Innocent IV made several of his relatives cardinals, most notably his nephew, Ottobuono Fieschi, who was later Pope Adrian V.
Does the VMs image support this interpretation?
1) With the cardinal in the inner ring and the pope in the outer ring, this is the correct placement for hierarchical positioning in the celestial spheres.
2) Both figures are located in the more favored heraldic upper right quadrant.
3) The choice of *white* Aries as the medallion figure is the only zodiac animal suitable for celestial sacrifice.
4) In the preceding Pisces and Dark Aries illustrations, corresponding in both quadrant and sphere to the striped tubs of White Aries, are tubs with scale-like patterns. This is an obscure heraldic fur known as papelonny. The structural correspondence, and the French word "pape" for pope make this look like an extended version of heraldic canting.
5) Does the number of stripes matter? No, the heraldic counting of parts comes much later.
6) What about the markings on the unpainted stripes? Has anyone found painting and hatching used in combination? The use of an invalid technique makes for an invalid objection.
7) The prolific painting of this particular zodiac page serves to hide the two tubs involved and to emphasize the 'whiteness' of White Aries.
What is hopefully clear is that there are two different ways to interpret the orientation of the blue-striped patterns of VMs White Aries - the radial way and the non-radial way. That is built into the structure. There are two options for interpretation. That is duality. The facts are that the more obvious, radial interpretation is historically insignificant (AFAIK), while the less obvious, non-radial interpretation is indicative of an important historical event in the heraldic tradition of the Catholic church. Less obvious implies a degree of disguise - not to mention a large dose of historical obscurity. Duality and disguise combined approach deception, a practitioner of visual trickery at least.
And then there's the VMs cosmic diagram - "Oresme"s" (Paris) cosmos inside of Shirakatsi's wheel based on structure. That's a good trick.