Re: VMs: Hello and Voynich Manuscript

["Petr Kazil" <kazil@xxxxxxxxxx>]

> IMO, trying to understand the medieval and early modern periods without
> understanding astrology will likely only give you half a picture -

During my business trip to Curacao I took with me "Johan Huizinga - Hersttij
der middeleeuwen" (The autumn of the middle ages). A study on the late
medieaval - early renaissance culture. More than 600 pages. Although this is
a major classic - astrology is not mentioned. Barbara Tuchman in her
monumental work on the 14th century does not mention astrology either (if I
remember correctly). Why could this be ?

I will read Jacob Burckhardt shortly (another classic study) and I wonder if
he'll mention it.

***
One memorable detail from Huizinga is his observation that late middle ages
gave meticulous attention to naturalistic detail - for example the Van
Eycks, the flemish primitives - every ship on the horizon is depicted
naturally. There is no selection - everything is drawn with loving care.
Later - in the renaissance - the artist selects the main features of
interest and abstracts the rest (hides it in shadow, does not depict it at
all). I wonder from which world the VMS comes if we look at it this way.



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