VMs: Re: astro-nymphs?

[Rene Zandbergen <r_zandbergen@xxxxxxxxx>]

--- "Rafal T. Prinke" <rafalp@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

[...]
 
> I went back to have a look at the image that was
> discussed a few years (?) ago - and IIRC you
> brought it to our attention then. I mean the
> image from a Byzantine version  of Ptolemy dated
> to the year 820 (at least that is what the caption
> in Kenton's _Astrology. The Celestial Mirror_ says).

The dating is correct. The MS is from the reign of
Leo V.
 
> The innermost circle (around the figure of Helios in
> his chariot) contains naked nymphs much like those
> in the VMS. The outer ring of inscriptions is quite
> obvious (even to me) and contains Roman names of
> months in Greek letters. But the inner ring puzzles
> me - especially as most labels seem to start with
> the same letters (again - much as in many VMS
> labels). 

They are indeed of extreme interest for us.
All labels start with a Greek omega and rho
superimposed, meaning 'hour'. Then follows
one of two symbols, either a capital N for night
or one which looks a bit like a capital M,
for day. The colour of the nymph (light/dark) is
corresponding. Then follow some Greek digits
indicating a time (hours and tens of minutes).
Note that the month name in the outer ring also 
includes a date. The date and time together give
the time that the Sun enters the corresponding
zodiac sign. It has been possible to compute from
these that the illustration again refers to the 
start of the 9th Century. This was first computed
(incorrectly) by Boll in 1899 and then correctly
by van der Waerden in 1954. Unfortunately, I do
not have a copy of the the latter publication. 

I have long thought that the zodiac labels in
the VMs could include a similar code.
Obviously ( :-) ) I haven't cracked it yet....

Cheers, Rene


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