#
# Identification:
#
# * Title: "Cancer"
# * Page: f72r3 = KE (Rene) = p139 (Stolfi)
# * Folio: f72
# * Panels: f72r3, f72r4
# * Bifolio: bK1 = f71+f72
# * Quire: K (Rene) = XI (Beinecke)
#
# This page spans the two outermost recto panels of an eight-panel
# fold-out. (The outermost panel is about 1/3 the width of a normal
# one.)
#
# D'Imperio figure 10, page 88 (center).
#
# Attributes:
#
# * Language: ? (Currier)
# * Hand: ? (Currier)
# * Subsets: Z (Rene), zod (Stolfi)
# * Subject: zodiac
# * Colors: ??? (Reeds), green(top_lobster),red(bottom_lobster)
#
# Description:
#
# (Beware that the KHE scanned image is upside down.)
#
# Four concentric rings of text (units µ{C1}, µ{C2}, µ{C3}, µ{C4},
# from outside in), bounded by eight faint mechanically drawn
# circles, roughly centered on the page. Circles 5 and 6 (from the
# outside) are spaced apart almost twice as much as the other pairs.
# The outermost text ring runs over the crease on the left side of
# the panel, and into the diagram of f72r2; for that reason the text
# is interrupted between 08:00 and 10:00. The middle ring of text
# has a decorated "notched square" at 09:00, and the innermost text
# ring has a wider word break at 08:55.
#
# In the centre there is a pair of lobster-like creatures seen from
# above. The one at the top is light-colored and facing East, the
# bottom one is dark and facing West. Below them is a non-Voynichese
# word, in a heavier hand than the other text in the page.
#
# The rings of text delimit three circular bands, containing (from
# inside out) respectively 7, 11, and 12 human figures or "nymphs",
# i.e. 30 in total. There is a label just clockwise of each figure
# (text units µ{X}, µ{Y}, µ{Z}, from inside out).
#
# Some figures are hardly visible due to the poor copy quality. All
# figures seem to be naked; some have visible breasts, some don't.
# Their hair is generally short (neck- or shoulder-length); some may
# be wearing showercap-style hats, and one is wearing a crown. They
# are standing (radially, with the head outwards), in 3/4 view,
# between frontal and facing clockwise --- except for the one in the
# middle band at 10:00, who is facing counterclockwise.
#
# As far as can be seen, each nymph is holding a star with the
# left hand; the right hand is generally resting on her back, hip,
# buttock, waist, belly, or ribs, but in some cases is stretched
# back and down. Some stars have "tails", but they are not generally
# used as handles by the nymphs.
#
# The following table summarizes the nymph and star attributes. The
# "brst" column says whether the figure has visible female breasts.
# The "rays" column is the number of rays in each star; a "t" means
# the star has a tail. The "hand" column gives the position of the
# right hand; a hour figure measn that the right arm is stretched
# towards that direction relative to the nymph.
#
# band label place brst hand rays notes
# ------- ----- ----- ---- ----- ---- ------------------------------
# inner X.1 09:30 yes ? 7?
# inner X.2 10:30 yes butt? 9?
# inner X.3 00:00 yes butt? 7
# inner X.4 01:15 ? butt 8 right leg forward
# inner X.5 03:05 yes butt? ? t crowned
# inner X.6 06:00 yes ribs? 8??
# inner X.7 07:30 yes butt 7??
#
# middle Y.1 10:00 no belly 6?t faces counterclockwise
# middle Y.2 11:00 yes hip 8 t
# middle Y.3 00:00 ? hip 7
# middle Y.4 01:00 no waist 7
# middle Y.5 01:45 yes belly ? t
# middle Y.6 02:30 ? ? 7
# middle Y.7 03:15 yes hip? ? ?
# middle Y.8 05:00 yes butt 8?t
# middle Y.9 06:30 yes hip? ? ?
# middle Y.10 08:00 yes hip 8 t
# middle Y.11 08:45 yes 07:00 ? ?
#
# outer Z.1 10:00 ? hip 7 t
# outer Z.2 10:30 yes ? 7 t shower cap
# outer Z.3 11:00 no belly 9 t right hand holding ring?
# outer Z.4 00:00 no ? 8?
# outer Z.5 00:45 no hip 8
# outer Z.6 01:30 ? ? 7 t
# outer Z.7 02:15 yes hip 8 t
# outer Z.8 03:45 yes 07:30 ? ?
# outer Z.9 05:00 yes 07:30 7?t dressed? hat?
# outer Z.10 06:15 yes hip? 7?t
# outer Z.11 07:00 yes ? ?
# outer Z.12 08:00 ? ? ? ?
#
# Rene [07 Apr 1999] observes that this folio is all curled up.
# Also that the nymph's crown is uncolored.
#
# Comments:
#
# The two lobsters are probably a symbol for Cancer.
# Cancer is July 7 to August 11 (?).
#
# Note the switch from two bands of nymphs + overflow (as in f72r2)
# to three bands of figures.
#
# The decorated square suggests the text rings are to be read
# starting at 09:00 or so.
#
# References:
#
#
# Last edited on 1999-04-21 08:59:12 by stolfi