"The assertion that there
can only be one true translation/reading of a text is
the root of many evils: religious wars, genocide,
racism, etc. One possibility is that the Voynich
manuscript is poetry, and that it is written in such a
way to convey double or triple meanings."Postmodern or not, this is IMHO a traditional view in esotericism.
Certain texts - like the Bible for instance - were/are seen as conveying say three meanings:
- the first one is literal (the normal or apparent one);
- the second one is moral (or allegorical);
- the third one is symbolical ( or esoterical).
Of course there are variations, depending on such and such school of thought, but this basic principle was recognised from Western Antiquity to Renaissance and of course during the Middle ages.
This especially applies to poetry (which is etymologically the science or art of creation ) in his symbolical aspects.
I certainly agree that VMS could be a sort of poem. It could be a sort of Book of Creation ( a sort of Genesis ) which is the title of a lost(?) work by Appolonios of Tyana (Balinous). BTW it could be interesting too to dig out the question of some famous or less famous "lost" works. Which was more or less attempted abouts R.Bacon's manuscripts.
A first objection to this pet theory is that when a book is coded ( x meanings ) you don't need ciphers. You know, there is always a series of objections to someone's unproved thesis...;-)
Regards,
Jean