The Voynich Manuscript
Wilfrid Voynich · Anonyme
Jun 2012 · e-artnow
4.1star
77 reviewsreport
Ebook
204
Pages
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About this ebook
This ebook is the complete reproduction of the preserved Voynich Manuscript, formatted for high resolution color ebook reader displays. The Voynich manuscript, also known as "the world's most mysterious manuscript", is a work which dates to the early 15th century, possibly from northern Italy. It is named after the book dealer Wilfrid Voynich, who purchased it in 1912. Much of the manuscript resembles herbal manuscripts of the time period, seeming to present illustrations and information about plants and their possible uses for medical purposes. However, most of the plants do not match known species, and the manuscript's script and language remain unknown and unreadable. Possibly some form of encrypted ciphertext, the Voynich manuscript has been studied by many professional and amateur cryptographers, including American and British codebreakers from both World War I and World War II. As yet, it has defied all decipherment attempts, becoming a cause célèbre of historical cryptology. The mystery surrounding it has excited the popular imagination, making the manuscript a subject of both fanciful theories and novels. None of the many speculative solutions proposed over the last hundred years has yet been independently verified. Illustrations: The illustrations of the manuscript shed little light on the precise nature of its text but imply that the book consists of six "sections", with different styles and subject matter. Except for the last section, which contains only text, almost every page contains at least one illustration. Following are the sections and their conventional names: Herbal: Each page displays one plant (sometimes two) and a few paragraphs of text—a format typical of European herbals of the time. Some parts of these drawings are larger and cleaner copies of sketches seen in the "pharmaceutical" section. None of the plants depicted is unambiguously identifiable. Astronomical: Contains circular diagrams, some of them with suns, moons, and stars, suggestive of astronomy or astrology. One series of 12 diagrams depicts conventional symbols for the zodiacal constellations (two fish for Pisces, a bull for Taurus, a hunter with crossbow for Sagittarius, etc.). Each of these has 30 female figures arranged in two or more concentric bands. Most of the females are at least partly naked, and each holds what appears to be a labeled star or is shown with the star attached by what could be a tether or cord of some kind to either arm. The last two pages of this section (Aquarius and Capricornus, roughly January and February) were lost, while Aries and Taurus are split into four paired diagrams with 15 women and 15 stars each. Some of these diagrams are on fold-out pages. Biological: A dense continuous text interspersed with figures, mostly showing small naked women, some wearing crowns, bathing in pools or tubs connected by an elaborate network of pipes, some of them strongly reminiscent of body organs. Cosmological: More circular diagrams, but of an obscure nature. This section also has foldouts; one of them spans six pages and contains a map or diagram, with nine "islands" or "rosettes" connected by "causeways" and containing castles, as well as what may possibly be a volcano. Pharmaceutical: Many labeled drawings of isolated plant parts (roots, leaves, etc.); objects resembling apothecary jars, ranging in style from the mundane to the fantastical; and a few text paragraphs. Recipes: Many short paragraphs, each marked with a flower- or star-like "bullet".
Ratings and reviews
4.1
77 reviews
beth taylor
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October 9, 2023
*Edit* Please, the manuscript can be downloaded for free online. Don't post that it is a book on plants if you only veiwed the 40 pg. free sample. It's worth checking out! It depicts much more than plants. The depictions of the spheres, does anyone else see the sun and moon seem to be depicting our north and south poles? I don't know, but I noticed and gave it some thought! The chart displaying multiple spheres all seem to originate from the central sphere. This chart may show not just a north and south pole but an east and west as well? Conspiracy theorists will love to hear that I have seen no better depiction of inner earth/ hollow earth. Inner layers, all hosting civilization. In 2018, the earths core stopped spinning. That's right! It started again, spinning the opposite direction! What we thought was our planets core has a core inside of it! This hollow earth theory has been believed by many highly prominent scientists over the years. Who knows what this mystery holds.
Sonja Dobson
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March 23, 2024
I am so intrigued with this book! To me, this is a holistic medicine journal that explains how to grow the plants and what ailments they cure when used right. It's about beauty, health and skin care.
Adam
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December 1, 2023
Great book really enjoyed it. But of a shame is ended on a cliffhanger. Cannot wait until the sequel.
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