Voynich Manuscript: An Unknown Language and Mysterious Drawings

  • Context: Lingusitics 
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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the Voynich Manuscript, an enigmatic text believed to be written in an unknown language, featuring various illustrations including astrological symbols and biological drawings. Participants explore its historical context, dating, and the mysterious nature of its content.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Historical

Main Points Raised

  • One participant introduces the Voynich Manuscript, noting its unique language and diverse illustrations, and invites thoughts on its significance.
  • Another participant questions the dating method used for the manuscript.
  • A subsequent reply clarifies that the manuscript has been historically dated to the 1500s, specifically mentioning its first appearance in 1586 at the court of Rudolph II of Bohemia, and discusses the basis for this dating.
  • Another participant elaborates on Rudolph II's historical significance, mentioning his association with mystics and astrologers, and the mystical context of the period.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the historical context of the manuscript and its association with Rudolph II, but there is uncertainty regarding the specific dating methods employed and whether carbon dating has been attempted.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the reliance on historical documentation for dating and the lack of clarity on whether carbon dating has been conducted, which may affect the understanding of the manuscript's origins.

Artman
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I came across an interesting web page the other day. It described a manuscript written possibly in the 1600's, in an unknown language (it is the only known example of the language in the world). The manuscript has drawings in it of astrological symbols, biological drawings of plants, nude women bathing in strange plumbing fixtures, astronomical drawings as if viewed through a telescope and biological drawings as if viewed through a microscope. The manuscript was written with no mistakes (no erasures) and the author is unknown.

Just thought I would post this and see what your thoughts are on the subject. The book is called the Voynich manuscipt and I believe it is the Library at Yale.

Here is a web page to view some of the pages.

http://voynich.no-ip.com/folios/

What do you think?
 
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How was it dated?
 
I reread the website and found that the paper has a history dating it to the 1500s "Historically, it first appears in 1586 at the court of Rudolph II of Bohemia..."

that website is here:

http://www.crystalinks.com/voynich.html

Sorry for the mistake. They dated it based on style and the history. I don't know if they attempted carbondating it yet.
 
"Historically, it first appears in 1586 at the court of Rudolph II of Bohemia..."

Of course Rudolph was the famous "wizard Emperor" (he was elected Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire). He employed such famous mystics and astrologers as John Dee and Johann Kepler. Just about everything mystical in that period (and there was a bunch) was attributed to him or his court.
 

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