VMs: Re: astro-nymphs?

["Rafal T. Prinke" <rafalp@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Grzegorz Stachowski wrote:

> I've only got the web jpg from Rafal's post to
> go on, but some of them seem to be male (for example the figures between
> Aries and Taurus and between Aquarius and Pisces), and they are all
> different. There aren't enough planets to go round for them to be
> personficiations.

I thought they might be the planetary rulers of signs - in which
case all except Sun and Moon would appear twice. But I now think
you are right.

> The twelve figures round the edge are, again, too indistinct, but I notice
> that they are all fully clothed in the winter months (going by the star
> signs), and increasing scantily dressed through the spring to fully naked
> in the summer. I would therefore suggest that they are personifications of
> the months. This was a very common occurence in art and illustration from
> ancient times into at least the 17th century.

Yes, it seems it is so. Thanks to Philip we also know that it
is from the 11th c. (it certainly did not look 16th c. to me)
and upside down!

> One interesting thing about these figures though is that they have some of
> the odd arm and hand positions seen on the nymphs in the VMS.
> Coincidence? Artistic licence? Or some underlying meaning common to both?

It is rather typical for the art of that time frame - expressing
life and movement.

So - a wrong clue again...

Best regards,

Rafal