#
# Identification:
#
# * Title: "Pisces"
# * Page: f70v2 = JE (Rene) = p133 (Stolfi) = 135 (Reeds)
# * Folio: f70
# * Panels: f70v3, f70v2
# * Bifolio: bJ1 = f69+f70
# * Quire: J (Rene) = X (Beinecke)
#
# This page spans the two outer verso panels of a six-panel fold-out.
# The outermost panel is narrower than normal panels.
#
# Newbold calls this 70r.
# Levitov figure 26, page 172.
# D'Imperio figure 10, page 88 (center).
#
# Roe, 8th September 1993
# Machine translated from a transcription in Bennett notation of 16/04/90
#
# Attributes:
#
# * Language: ? (Currier)
# * Hand: ? (Currier)
# * Subsets: Z (Rene), zod (Stolfi)
# * Subject: zodiac
# * Colors: green,blue,red(sparingly,mouths),yellow(stars) (Reeds), green(hor_tubes),blue(some_nymphs_hair),blue(fish_fins,fish_lines) (Rene)
#
# Description:
#
# Three concentric rings of text (units µ{R1}, µ{R2}, and µ{R3},
# inner to outer), each bounded by a pair of faint, mechanically
# drawn circles.
#
# Just outside the innermost ring of text there is a narrow band of
# abstract decoration (Greek-like meanders, notched strips,
# hatching, etc., and "notched square" motifs), delimited by another
# mechanical circle.
#
# One can see a small portion (the Northwest quarter, mostly) of
# another mechanical circle, just inside the middle ring of text.
# This arc of circle appears to bound, and even clip, the "nymph"
# drawings inside it (see below).
#
# In the centre of the diagram there are two fish, the top one
# facing West, the bootom one facing East. Each fish has a long,
# smooth, pointed snout (vaguely like a tapir's) and horizontal
# mouth (the top fish is smiling, the other is sad). The body is
# slender like a sturgeon's, with four rows of coarse scales.
# To the body are attached a triangular tail, pectoral and ventral fins
# (presumably paired), and two short dorsal fins (one just behind
# the head, one 2/3 of the way to the tailfin). The tailfin is lobed
# and divided into "feathers", like a bird's tail.
#
# Rene reports [04 Apr 1999] that the fishes are drawn in the same
# ink as the text; while the "month name" is in slightly darker ink.
#
# There is a seven-pointed star above the fish, with a Voynichese
# label (unit µ{C}); and another one below, unlabeled. Between the
# two fish there is a word in non-Voynich script, whose strokes
# seem thicker and more angular than the Voynichese label above.
#
# Two thin threads connect the fishes' mouths to the top star. The
# threads merge just below the star, and connect to it between its
# two lower rays. Both threads run clockwise; the lower one passing
# below the fishes, thickens shortly after leaving the fish's mouth,
# and at its lowest point it sends off a branch that connects to the
# highest ray of the bottom star.
#
# Between the inner and middle rings of text there is a broad band
# containing 10 human figures or "nymphs", each coming out of a
# horizontal cylinder, painted green. These cylinders look like
# sections of drainage pipe, with flanges at both ends (cf. f78r).
# All cylinders, except the one at 11:00, open counterclockwise, and
# the nymphs face in the same direction. The nymphs have most of
# their legs inserted horizontally into the "pipes", but bend quite
# unnaturaly, bacwards or sideways, so that their torso is upright
# (i.e. radial, with the head outwards).
#
# Between the middle and the outer text rings are 19 (not 20)
# nymphs. All are standing (radially, with the head outwards); all
# are in frontal view, or slightly turned towards the clockwise
# direction. Each of these nymphs is inside an upright barrel or
# basket, reaching up to her waist (with only a couple of
# exceptions). In proportion to the nymph, the barrel is about two
# feet wide, and has a "lip" a couple of inches wide. All barrels
# are decorated with various abstract patterns---stripes, hatchings,
# circles, waves, etc.. The base of the barrel is hidden by the text
# band. The four nymphs at the top, between 11:00 and 01:00 are
# smaller and more cramped than the rest (and so are their barrels).
#
# All figures are naked, and seem to be female: all have (or may
# have) full breasts, and many have visible nipples. (But the inner
# nymph at 09:00 seems to have nipples below her breasts.)
#
# There is a star (or flower) next to each nymph, supported by a
# wire-like tail---sometimes straight, sometimes S-shaped. All inner
# nymphs except 10:00, 09:00, 08:00 are holding their stars by the
# "tails". All other nymphs have their hands hidden inside the
# barrels, and the star tails are coming out of the containers or
# cylinders.
#
# Each of the 29 figures is labeled with a ``word'' or phrase of
# Voynich text (text units µ{S1} and µ{S2}, inner and outer bands).
# The spacing suggests the label is always placed at the right (i.e.
# clockwise) of the corresponding nymph.
#
# The following table summarizes the nymph attributes. The "spos"
# column says whether the star is placed clockwise ("cw") or
# counterclockwise ("ccw") of the nymph; for inner nymphs that is
# also the direction where the tube is open. The "hold" column says
# whether the nymph is holding the star (by a ray, or by the tail if
# present). The "brst" column tells whether the nymph has visible
# female breasts.
#
# band label place brst spos tail hold notes
# ----- ----- ----- ---- --- ---- ---- ----------------------
# inner S1.1 11:30 ? cw no yes
# inner S1.2 00:15 ? ccw no yes right arm raised
# inner S1.3 01:30 ? ccw yes yes?
# inner S1.4 03:00 yes ccw yes yes
# inner S1.5 04:15 yes ccw yes yes
# inner S1.6 05:30 yes ccw no no
# inner S1.7 06:15 yes ccw no yes
# inner S1.8 07:30 ? ccw no ? on top of fold
# inner S1.9 09:00 yes ccw yes no nipples under breasts?
# inner S1.10 10:15 ? ccw yes no
#
# outer S2.1 11:30 no cw yes no smaller
# outer S2.2 11:45 no cw yes no smaller
# outer S2.3 00:15 yes cw yes no smaller
# outer S2.4 00:30 yes cw yes no smaller
# outer S2.5 01:00 yes cw yes no
# outer S2.6 01:30 yes cw yes no
# outer S2.7 02:00 yes cw yes no
# outer S2.8 02:45 yes cw yes no
# outer S2.9 03:30 yes cw yes no
# outer S2.10 04:15 no cw yes no male?
# outer S2.11 04:45 yes cw yes no
# outer S2.12 05:30 yes cw yes no
# outer S2.13 06:30 yes cw yes no
# outer S2.14 07:00 no cw yes no
# outer S2.15 07:45 yes cw yes no
# outer S2.16 08:30 yes cw yes no
# outer S2.17 09:30 yes cw yes no
# outer S2.18 10:15 yes cw yes no
# outer S2.19 10:45 yes cw yes no
#
# There is a smudge right next to the left edge of panel f70v3,
# which could be a couple of erased characters.
#
# Comments:
#
# STYLE AND LAYOUT
#
# Although the nypmhs are a bit awkwards and deformed, it looks as
# if this drawing was done with more care than the other "Zodiac"
# diagrams. (However, this impression may be due simply to better
# preervation or reproduction.)
#
# The fishes look quite realistic, except for the mouths. However
# they may have been "invented" rather than copied from real models.
#
# The barrels in the outer group are not well drawn; the sides are
# neither parallel nor radial (i.e.vertical), especially in the one
# at 10:45. The perspective is not quite correct ---the top is
# tilted too much towards the viewer, and in four cases (05:30,
# 06:30, 10:15, 10:45) it is drawn as an eye, not an ellipse. The
# decoration however curves around the barrel, as it should.
#
# It seems that the artist planned to add another band of decoration
# just inside the middle text ring. He/she lightly sketched the
# inner bounding circle of that band, and carefully avoided it while
# drawing the inner nymphs from 08:00 to 01:00. (By the way, this
# explains why the nymph at 07:30 has her face crammed against the
# fold.) But the nymphs from 01:00 to 08:00 overflowed that circle
# (perhaps because it was too faint in those parts), and the band
# was left undecorated.
#
# From the kinks in the circles, and the appearance of figures and
# text near the fold, its seems that the fold was already present
# when the drawing was made.
#
# THE FISH EMBLEM
#
# The two fish are obviously the astrological symbol for Pisces,
# which is February 20th to March 20th.
#
# Rene Zandbergen [23 Feb 96] reports seeing an illustration of the
# Pisces symbol [2] very similar to the center picture of f70v2, in
# anatomy and proportions.
#
# Rene [14 Mar 1997] notes that whenever there are two things in a
# zodiac symbol (Cancer, Libra), or two copies of a diagram (Taurus,
# Aries), one is light and the other is dark; but pisces is an
# exception. (But "dark" and "light" may be just reproduction noise;
# we should look at the original colors.)
#
# THE "MONTH NAME"
#
# The word between the fish could be "(m|n)((a|ci)(v|r)|w)(c|g)" in
# Latin script, and is traditionally read "mars". Mars is French for
# March. The first letter resembles the last letter of <f116v.P.1>
# (the "michiton" line).
#
# THE CENTRAL STARS
#
# Don Latham [25 Apr 1997] notes that the star must be al-rischa
# (the rope-knot) from his constellation atlas. [The label is
# "otolal" in the best transcription.] Rene [5 Jan 1998] reports
# howeer that "alrischa" is a late assignment.
#
# Mark Sulla [26 Apr 1997] adds that
#
# Hipparchos and Ptolemy called it "sundesmos ton ikhthuon" or
# "ton linon". Cicero et al called it "nodus", or "nodus
# caelestis" and "nodus piscium" Pliny called it the "commissura
# Piscium" The Almagest called it "nodus duorum filorum". The
# asterism of the threads was variously called "vincla",
# "alligamentum" "linteum" or "luteum". Hevelius subdivided it
# into the "linum boream" and "austrinum". [1]
#
# Rene [28 Apr 1997] observes however that the label need not be the
# name, it could be some indication of its position: X deg Y min. He
# also notes that alrischa belongs with the *constellation* of
# Pisces, not the *sign*.
#
# Rene [28 Apr 1997] suggests that Polaris would be a possible
# candidate for the star, on account of its distinguished position
# in the VMS. Don Latham [] objects, why should Polaris be in
# Pisces?
#
# Denis Mardle [28 Apr 97] notes that "otolal" does not seem to
# occur in his files, but "otalal" does occur on <f58r.11;F>,
# <f68v3.O.1;C>, <f70v2.R1.1;C>, <f71r.15A;K>, <f72v1.R3.1;C>,
# <f107r.22;F>. [??? Check the numbers]
#
# THE TEXT RINGS
#
# According to Denis Mardle [14 Mar 97], the nymphs in tubes suggest
# that the diagram should be read from the inside out.
# (Unfortunately most text unit have been numbered the other way...)
#
# Denis also observes [14 Mar 97] that a line through the two stars
# in the center points 11:00, and goes through the only inner nymph
# who is facing clockwise. Stolfi [here] thinks that the odd nymph
# was reversed so as to face the 12:00 gap, and the 12:00 nymph
# (with oustretched arm), because that is the "important" place in
# that band.
#
# THE NYMPHS
#
# Stolfi [11 Aug 1998] observes that f70v2 seems to go against the
# general trend of the Zodiac section: as one goes from Aries to
# Sagittarius, the nymphs get progressivley less clothed and more
# exposed. So perhaps f70v2 was drawn after Aries.
#
# Rene [14 Mar 1997] thinks that the nymphs coming out of tubes
# strongly suggest birth (whether it be a person or the cosmos). On
# the other hand, the disappearance of the barrels in subsequent
# diagrams may be simply a result of the artist becoming more hasty.
#
# Rene [14 Mar 1997] suggests also that the nymphs in tubes could
# be linked with the alchemical concept of creation of a homunculus.
#
# NYMPH/STAR COUNT
#
# This folio is exceptional in having only 29 nymphs and stars. Rene
# [8 May 1996] suggests that the star in the center may be the
# missing 30th star. (But then why not count the other central star,
# too?) He also mentions Pietro d'Abano, a 14th century occultist,
# in whose astrological system each sign was divided into 30 "faces"
# or parts.
#
# Robert Firth [note 20] conjectures that the "29" was a mistake,
# and the number should have been "30", like all other "months".
# But that is the Pharaonic Egyptian calendar; why would anyone
# revive it?
#
# Stolfi [here] thinks the artist had planned to draw 20 nymphs in the
# outer band, by drawing 4 small ones at the top, then 4 more in each of
# the four quadrants. This he did in the first three quadrants, going
# clockwise; but then he got confused (perhaps by the fold), and drew only
# 3 nymphs in the last quadrant, from 09:00 to 12:00.
#
# THE STAR LABELS
#
# Denis Mardle [27 Mar 1997] notes that 16 of the star labels start
# with EVA "ok", 8 start with "ot", 2 start with "yt" --- and yet all
# are different.
#
# Denis also notes that labels <f70v2.S2.14> and <f70v2.S2.15> (old
# S1.13 and S1.14) both occur on Libra as <f72v1.S1.4> and
# <f72v1.S2.2>.
#
# Robert Firth [note 07] observes similarities between
# the nymph labels on f72v2 and those in the Biological page f82v.
#
# WHY PISCES?
#
# Guy Thibault [4 Mar 1996] finds it strange that the VMS zodiac
# begins with Pisces, instead of Aries as is usual in astrology.
# Robert Firth [note 20] observes that the Egyptian year began in
# our July, with the heliacal rising of Sirius.
#
# Dan Moonhawk Alford [4 Mar 1996] and Adams Douglas [29 Apr 1997]
# note that Pisces is actually astronomically correct (and has been
# for many centuries). But Robert asks --- why, alone of all works
# of Western astrology, is the Voynich Zodiac true to the stars?
#
# Rayman Maleki [08 Sep 1997] says that a 15th century rebirth of
# astrology and medicine gave Pisces astrological control over the
# body. Pictures from this time often have a person standing firmly
# on the fish. He mentions a drawing of an apothecary shop in Prague
# that had two fish as symbol on the sign.
#
# Rayman [08 Sep 1997] suggests that, alternatively, Pisces may be
# the beginning of the planting year. Or the VMS may be a reading
# for someone born in Pisces. Rene [17 Jul 1998] proposes as a
# possible VMs author a certain George of Trebizond, who "had a firm
# belief in astrology and wrote that his fated life was controlled
# by his birth in the sign of Pisces." Moreover, he was once jailed
# because of his `libido'.
#
# Glen Claston [25 Feb 1998] says that he saw EVA "&169" used as a
# power seal symbol related to Pisces, in a book on Honorius in an
# occult shop, but the book gave no reference to its origin.
# (Honorius was 13th? century but all related symbols in the
# paperback were 14th century.)
#
# Rene [21 Apr 1997] and Denis [24 Apr 97] mention a set of
# conjuntions of Saturn and Jupiter in 1464, 1524 and 1583 in
# Pisces; the 1524 was believed to announce a terrible deluge
# because of the watery sign.
#
# ZODIAC, OR SOMETHING ELSE?
#
# Guy Thibault [4 Mar 1996] suggests that the signs could stand for
# years in the life of an individual, and each nymph for a month;
# and that the "kings' and "queens" could be real historical people.
# The 9 nymphs in tubes of this picture could be the 9 months in the
# womb. Robert Firth [note 07] proposes a similar idea - that the
# "zodiac" is a list of "lucky" and "unlucky" days.
#
# Rene [8 Mar 1996] takes up Guy's suggestion and estimates that the
# individual shoudl have been 25-30 years old at the time of
# writing, or died at that age. But there are 10, not 9 nymphs in
# horizontal tubes, so this period is more likely post-natal than
# pre-natal. As for kings and queens, he mentions that Agrippa's
# sister became queen of Navarre...
#
# References:
#
# [1] "Star Names, their Lore and Meaning", Dover, Richard Hinckley
# Allen, p. 342 (re: Al Rischa).
#
# [2] "The history of private life", volume 2 of 5. The caption says
# "`La Manekine' which is in the Cambrai Library" (that should be
# Cambrai in France).
#
#
# Last edited on 1999-04-21 08:42:52 by stolfi