Re: VMs: A Possible Interpretation of the Four Figures, one with an Egg

[Pamela Richards <spirlhelix@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hi, Jeff

Yes, that makes sense.  And eight labels on the
illustration.

Lots of things add up to eight:  The eighth sphere of
the fixed stars, the number of gods in the Orphic
theogony, the number of divisions of the 360 degree
conversion chart in the VMs . . .eight is the number,
as Agrippa says, of the "corporeall".

Eight weaves into several of the themes of the VMs.  
I believe this has significance.

Warmly,

Pam

--- Jeff <jeff@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> Eight lobes, eight gods?
> 
> Jeff
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Pamela Richards" <spirlhelix@xxxxxxxxx>
> To: <vms-list@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: 07 September 2004 18:00
> Subject: Re: VMs: A Possible Interpretation of the
> Four Figures, one with an
> Egg
> 
> 
> > Hi, List
> >
> >
> > A correction:  The central object has eight lobes,
> not
> > twelve!
> >
> > I must have just looked at it and multipled three
> > lobes by four sides.  Clearly, counting by hand is
> > called for.
> >
> > Warmly,
> >
> > Pam
> >
> > --- Pamela Richards <spirlhelix@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> >
> > > A Suggested Interpretation of the Four Figures
> and
> > > the
> > > Egg
> > >
> > > Greetings to the List
> > >
> > > I have been looking at the circular illustration
> > > with
> > > concentric written characters surrounding the
> four
> > > figures in the center of the page, one holding
> an
> > > egg
> > > or a similar round or spherical object, which I
> will
> > > call an egg for simplicity's sake and other
> reasons
> > > I
> > > will soon explain.  I have been looking at it to
> > > find
> > > ways to relate this illustration to other themes
> I
> > > can
> > > see in the VMs.
> > >
> > > My initial instinct is to try to interpret the
> four
> > > figures and the egg in the center of the
> concentric
> > > circles of characters, hoping that might shed
> some
> > > light on the possible content or intent of the
> > > written
> > > text.  First I will describe what I see, then I
> will
> > > suggest what I think it might signify.
> > >
> > > In the center of the illustration is a small
> circle
> > > with a dot in the center, surrounded by an
> irregular
> > > scalloped cloud or flower-like form with twelve
> > > lobes.
> > >  There are four figures arranged in a circle
> around
> > > the central cloud or flower-shaped object.  
> Written
> > > labels extend from the central cloudlike object
> to
> > > the
> > > figures.  Three of the labels extend to the hand
> of
> > > one of the back-facing figures; the label
> nearest
> > > the
> > > figure with the egg, however, exists without
> > > reference
> > > to any of the figures.  Other written labels
> seem to
> > > be deliberately placed near each of the figures;
> one
> > > of the back-facing figures has two labels
> extending
> > > from his hands, and one label extending from the
> > > central cloud.  The figure opposite the one with
> the
> > > egg has two labels extending from one hand (I
> will
> > > explain why I ascribe this one a feminine gender
> in
> > > a
> > > moment); but it is not clear that both labels
> > > "belong"
> > > to her; one label floating over her head and
> other
> > > extending from a back-facing figure may actually
> > > both
> > > 'belong' to the back-facing figures..   The
> figure
> > > with the egg has only one label which extends
> from
> > > his
> > > general vicinity to the central cloud-flower
> shape.
> > >
> > > One human-like figure appears primary because of
> > > several differences between himself and the
> other
> > > figures.  He  is holding an egg, so he is the
> only
> > > figure holding an object.  He is also pointing
> to
> > > and
> > > looking at the figure directly opposite him, who
> > > returns his gaze, while receiving to her hand
> one of
> > > the labels extending from the cloud-shaped
> central
> > > object.   The two figures to his sides have
> their
> > > backs to the central figure and to us and look
> > > outward.  One of the back-facing figures has
> both
> > > hands pointing at a different label which seem
> to
> > > extend from her hands.  The other back-facing
> figure
> > > has two labels near each of its arms and is
> > > receiving
> > > to his hand one of the labels extending from the
> > > central cloud shape.
> > >
> > > First I counted the labels associated with the
> > > figures.  I counted eight labels, total.  Then I
> > > looked back to my research on the number eight
> in
> > > the
> > > Second Bool of Occult Philosophy by Cornelius
> > > Agrippa
> > > and found a reference to Orpheus, who called on
> > > eight
> > > gods: Sun, Moon, Fire, Water, Earth, Heaven,
> Night,
> > > and Phanes.  I wish to thank Jean for
> introducing me
> > > to the significance of Phanes on another Voynich
> > > list,
> > > although I did not go much further with my
> research
> > > at
> > > that time.  This time, I was even more curious
> about
> > > Phanes, since I have rarely come across this
> name
> > > before learning about the Voynich Manuscript and
> > > researching the number eight.  I wish to thank
> Jorge
> > > for helping me think along this line; perhaps
> due to
> > > his prompting, this association reminds me of
> the
> > > 2x2x2 sequence leading up to eight.
> > >
> > > One ancient system of beliefs built upon the
> idea
> > > that
> > > all that exists is created in diads; that for
> every
> > > force that exists, there is a masculine and
> feminine
> > > component, and that all existence holds together
> in
> > > the tension that exists in the urge these diads
> > > experience to be united.  This is one of the
> beliefs
> > > of a certain sect of Gnosticism which subscribes
> to
> > > the teachings of Orpheus.
> > >
> > > Phanes, as an Orphic god or demiurge, is a
> prominent
> > > character in Gnostic theogony, the story of the
> > > creation of the gods..  I'm most likely not the
> only
> > > one who has come across this fact, and I would
> be
> > > happy to read whatever anyone else has written
> on
> > > the
> > > subject of Phanes references in the Voynich Ms
> to
> 
=== message truncated ===


=====
"I'd rather learn from one bird how to sing, than to teach ten thousand stars how not to dance."


		
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