Re: VMs: Writer's Motivation

[Dennis <tsalagi@xxxxxxxx>]

Jonathan Lopez wrote:
> 
> 1. what would be the motives for writing an
> untranslatable book in the 1500's? (if this was in
> fact a hoax)

	If it were *not* a hoax, it might have been
instruction for a secret society, or contained things
that would have attracted the attention of the
Inquisition, or unwelcome attention of political
rulers.  It could be the meaningless or privately
meaningful product of a single individual.  

	If it were a hoax, see the rest of this note!  I don't
think things have changed that much in that regard.  

> 2. the book was sold for 600 gold ducats which is how
> much in todays cash?

        Sometime ago I worked out the monetary value of
600 ducats, using the values of pure gold in ducats
from Rafal Prinke and Jacques Guy.  The full range for
the pure gold in 600 ducats would be 42-68 troy ounces,
for a 2003 US$ value of 16000-26000.  However, I
remember a discussion a few years back of the current
buying power of 600 ducats, and I recall we came up
with several hundred thousand US$ ! 

 	Rafal Prinke also has observed that the money paid
for manuscripts at the time varied wildly.  So it's
pretty hard to say anything meaningful.  

> 3. if Emperor Rudolf II of Bohemia was scamed in
> buying this book what was he told it did or could do
> for him?

	He was interested in alchemy and the occult.  I don't
know more specifically.  
 
> 4. it is implied that this is not the complete book,
> is there any info on who currently has or had the
> completed book?

	Some folios are known to be missing.  Others will have
to elaborate further.  

> 5. using handwritting analysis (my psychology prof
> would get upset at me suggesting this) what can this
> tell us about the writer?

	No one has tried this.  

> 6. had the book been carbon dated yet?

	No. The decay curve for carbon-14 in the time period
is such that we would not learn anything very
specific.  Also, it would only tell us the date of the
vellum, not necessarily the date of composition.  

> 7. what in today's standards could convince you to buy
> an untranslatable book?

	People would still buy it if they thought it contained
occult or religious secrets, or had talismanic or
occult value on its own.  They might buy it if they
thought it contained secrets of a conspiracy.  People
might also buy it for its inherent artistic value, or
because it was a fad, or to impress others, or because
they thought they might be able to decipher it.  

	The Codex Seraphinianus does in fact exist.  I wonder
how many people bought it, and why.

Dennis
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