Page f67r2
[f67r1] [index] [f67v2]
Identification
Title: "The seven planets"
Page: f67r2 = IB (Rene) = p120 (Stolfi)
Folio: f67
Panels: f67r2
Bifolio: bI1 = f67+f68
Quire: I (Rene) = IX (Beinecke)
This is the outermost recto panel of a four-panel fold-out.
Also listed as page 124
Attributes
Language: ? (Currier)
Hand: ? (Currier)
Subsets: A (Rene), cos (Stolfi)
Subject: astronomical
Colors: tan,red(some_writing) (Reeds), brick+yellow(moons),red(2nd_text_line) (Rene)
Description
A circular diagram, defined by 7 concentric mechanically drawn
circles.
Circles 1 and 2 (from the outside in) define a narrow band of
decoration, consisting of 24 copies of a "scroll"-like or
"resistor"-like object. Circles 3 and 4 define another narrow
empty band; same for circles 6 and 7.
Between circles 2 and 3 there is a band of coloured (red?) text,
consisting of 12 phrases separated by wide gaps (unit Y). They
don't line up perfectly with inner sectors (see below), but appear
to be spaced as if the intent was there.
Between circles 4 and 5 there is a broad band, divided into 12
sectors by straight radial lines, unevenly spaced. Each sector
contains two or three lines of text, reading clockwise, with straight
or curved baselines (unit C).
Near the bottom (innner) edge of each sector there is a round moon
with crescent shadow and human face. Seven of the moons have a
label just above (i.e. outwards of) them (unit L).
This table shows the number of lines in units "C" and "L" and the
moon colours (light/medium/dark), starting from 08:30:
O'clock 08: 09: 10: 11: 00: 01: 02: 03: 04: 05: 06: 07: (+:30)
Number #01 #02 #03 #04 #05 #06 #07 #08 #09 #10 #11 #12
C lines 3.5 2.0 3.0 3.0 2.5 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 3.0 3.0 3.0
L labels -- lab -- lab -- lab lab lab lab -- -- lab
colours lt dk lt dk md dk lt lt dk dk lt dk
Between circles 5 and 6 there is a single row of text, containing 12
labels (unit X), apparently associated with the sectors and/or
moons in the band above.
Inside circle 7 there is another ring of text, with 8 erratically spaced
labels (unit Z).
At the center of the diagram there is an eight-pointed star/flower
with an "orange slice" background. The eight arms are not
particularly aligned with the 8 labels of the innermost text circle.
The star arm at 08:30 has a dotted tail extending out between two
labels.
Below the diagram there is a normal-looking paragraph (unit P)
with 3.0 lines. According to John Grove these are only lines in
the MS that are ruled. The center line of text is coloured (red?)
and its strokes seem to be heavier than those of the other two.
Rene [04 Apr 1999] reports that the "b"[???] is in pencil.
Comments
It is possible that the text in all the sectors between radial
lines 10:00 and 5:00 comprises a single paragraph with three and a
half lines. The same can be said of the remaining sectors.
Robert Firth once suggested that the seven named moons may be the
the seven Ptolemaic planets.
Since line 2 of the paragraph is colored, each line is probably
a separate sentence.
References
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