The voynich manuscript an elegant enigma

When I did look into the question, the answer from the historical and archaeological evidence was a definite and resounding negative. Otherwise, for the hundred years from 1912-2012, that вЂpharmacyвЂ™ idea had been taken on faith, repeated without evidence and by sheer repetition had been elevated to the status of a вЂVoynich doctrineвЂ™ вЂ“ that is, something founded on faith alone but which one dares doubt only at oneвЂ™s peril. More of his Murano trip, in a following post. And it isnвЂ™t.ДЄfter some time I did learn that Nick Pelling had made a trip to the Murano glass museum in Venice вЂ“ not to test the вЂpharmaвЂ™ idea, but in pursuit of evidence that would support his own theory of an Italian provenance for the Voynich text. Accompanied by some continuous text.ДЄs best IвЂ™ve been able to discover, no-one over the entire century from 1912 to 2012 had questioned, or attempted to establish, whether the вЂpharmaceutical jarsвЂ™ idea was justified. On almost every page drawings of pharmaceutical jars, what seem to be containers of various types, resembling vases, in red, green and yellow, or blue and green. 87r-102v Pharmaceutical section containing drawings of over 100 different species of medicinal herbs plant-parts including leaves and roots, all with identifying inscriptions. How much of that is true? I mean, how much is either self-evident fact or represents conclusions from research asking, for example, whether the historical and archaeological evidence supports an idea thatВ in medieval Europe before 1440 pharmacies used equipment of the same types and range as the artefacts depicted in that section?Д«y that criterion, and with some modifications, this is how much is true: On almost every page drawings of pharmaceutical jars, resembling vases, in red, green and yellow, or blue and green. 87r-102v Pharmaceutical section containing drawings of over 100 different species of medicinal herbs and roots, all with identifying inscriptions. Robert Bumbaugh held a chair at Yale and the person who wrote the manuscriptвЂ™s catalogue description, Barbara Shailor, was senior librarian and keeper of manuscripts in YaleвЂ™s Beinecke library.Д«ecause it is a source on which most people expect they might rely, IвЂ™ll begin with the Beinecke catalogue entry, written c.1969-78, and from there trace back to its origin the idea that one section of the manuscript is about pharmacy.Дescribing the section as вЂPart 5вЂ™, the catalogue reads: Professor Newbold had held a chair at the University of Pennsylvania William Friedman was associated with the American Department of Defence, and the NSA, as was dвЂ™Imperio. The result was a habit of believing without evidence a range of вЂVoynich legendsвЂ™. THROUGHOUT LAST CENTURY, a number of statements made about the manuscript were accepted entirely on faith, and not least because the persons making those statements were associated with institutions whose reputations pre-disposed others to accept what was said. Header вЂ“ (left) portrait of Professor William Romaine Newbold (right) Mary dвЂ™Imperio (centre вЂ“ background) Beinecke Library (centre, lower register) detail from folio trunk of young specimen of Bombax ceiba. What magic? Where magic? 5c: Green starsВ (concluded.)( July 30, 2021).Potions and lotions вЂ“ the вЂpharmaceuticalвЂ™ section.

The voynich manuscript an elegant enigma