Re: VMs: Hebrew Kabbalistic Cryptography

[Nick Pelling <incoming@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Donald,

> These symbols bear a curious resemblance at times to the Voynich sigils,
> e.g. the system used in 4Q298 for the Aramaic letter "vav" closely resembles
> the VMS sigil for EVA [f]; also the Cryptic 4Q298 code for the Aramaic
> letter "Quph" is the same as the Voynich sigil for EVA [d] (i.e. resembling
> the modern Arabic numeral 8); the Cryptic 4Q298 coded letter for Aramaic
> "tav" resembles the VMS sigil for EVA [p]:  the Crytpic 4Q298 coded letter
> for Aramaic " 'ayin " is similar to the VMS sigil for EVA [c]; 4Q298 Cryptic
> Aramaic letter "Kaph" is the same symbol as the VMS sigil for EVA [o]: 4Q298
> Cryptic sign for Aramaic "mem" is similar to the VMS sigil for EVA [m} and
> finally, the EVA [q] which resembles a tall numeral "4" is similar to the
> 4Q298 Cryptic coded letter for Aramaic "tet".

I think this came up before on list (I certainly remember checking it 
before). For a short description of 4Q298 (which is currently on public 
display in the Israel Museum in Jerusalem), see:-

http://www.csec.ac.uk/dead-scroll.html

Note that 4Q298 is written in "Cryptic A": here's a further (slightly 
tantalising) message from James Harding, feel free to follow it up if you 
wish:-

http://orion.mscc.huji.ac.il/orion/archives/1998b/msg00007.html

        I mean tawe-I mention this similarity because of similarities
        noted by S. Pfann between cryptic A and an earlier
        Phoenician script: I am curious about where cryptic A
        fits in the development of semitic alphabets.

        As for a reference to cryptic A: see S. Pfann's contribution
        to DJD 20 or his article in JQR 85 (1994) on 4Q298

> This may suggest (but only "may" suggest) that the originator of the VMS
> sigil-cypherbet might have had some contact with Aramaic/Hebrew Caballistic
> coded cyphers used in antiquity and developed/morphed over time through the
> Middle Ages (even the Dead Sea Scroll sect re-emerged as the Karaites before
> the year 1000).

I think you'll find no shortage of people interested in Qabbala and 
Gematria here. :-)  In the 15th century (and especially in its latter 
half), these were hot topics - and the idea of codes and ciphers built on 
such principles certainly had currency back then (though whether any such 
were used to any significant degree is another question entirely - my guess 
is probably not, though YMMV).

While I think that the VMS is likely to turn out to have an interesting 
back-story, I think it's fairly unlikely to involve anything quite so 
exotic as the reemergence of the Karaites 500+ years later. Certainly, 
there appear to be numerous simpler (and many times more plausible) 
mechanisms that would explain all of its features.

Having said that, who knows for sure? I certainly don't. :-)

Cheers, .....Nick Pelling.....

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