Re: VMs: RE: Cicco Simonetta / Sartirana / library...?

[Nick Pelling <incoming@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Dear Rene,

> > [Nick:] You know my views on the VMS'
> > cipherbet's probable reuse of a shorthand
> > system (plus the renegade "4"), so I'm with you,
> > brother. :-)
>
> Both of you lost me there.
> Isn't this similar to the old question whether
> man descends from ape or both descend from a
> common parent?

Oh... you've met my parents, then? :-9

> There are similarities between some VMs characters
> and:
>  - some alchemical symbols
>  - old arabic numerals
>  - abbreviations as in Capelli
>  - code symbols as seen in the Tranchedino book.
> In any case, to me these are all overlapping sets
> and prioriry is not clear to me in any
> direction.

My view is that the letters of the VMS alphabet (bar the "4" character) all 
have the property of being fluidly-written, single-stroke characters, 
apparently most suited for writing on wax tablets - the kind of properties 
you'd expect in a shorthand (more precisely, a tachygraphic) alphabet.

Taken as a whole, then, the morphology would seem to suggest that the VMS 
alphabet was largely appropriated from (or just "was") an existing 
shorthand alphabet. If it seems like a mature, consistent set, it probably is.

Also: I've looked long and hard trying to find the origins of the modern 
Capricorn glyph (which I think bears strong similarities to the EVA "m" 
glyph) pre-1500, but without success. My inference is that both EVA <m> and 
[Capricorn, the tenth sign] were derived from a tachygraphic "x" sign - but 
evidence for or against this appears to be frustratingly absent. I'd love 
to know either way... any suggestions for where to look next would be much 
appreciated. :-)

> > I'm looking for the biggest physical proof that
> > could exist - a smoking
> > cannon, if you like. Perhaps it's under that castle,
> > who knows? :-)
>
> Well, here I feel a need to be a bit skeptical.
> What exactly are you hoping to find in that
> castle? It would have to be quite a bit more than
> an empty hidden room...

Something buried in the foundations of a still-standing castle should still 
be there, n'est-ce pas? :-)

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


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