Re: VMs: Faces at the roots

[Rene Zandbergen <r_zandbergen@xxxxxxxxx>]

--- Luis Velez <luis.velez@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> This depiction of "scorza di mandragola", for
> example, includes a  
> little animal:
>
http://www.istitutodatini.it/biblio/images/en/riccard/2174/dida/96r.htm
> 
> and this one (of a small rooster):
>
http://www.istitutodatini.it/biblio/images/en/riccard/2174/dida/48r.htm
> 
> reminding us of the little dragon-like creature by
> the root of VMS's  
> f26r.
> 
> Was it common in XV century herbals to include
> little symbolic animals  
> by the roots of certain plants?

You should read:

Toresella, Sergio: Gli erbari degli alchmisti, in: L.
Saginati, Arte farmaceutica e piante medicinali;
erbari, vasi, strumenti e testi dalle raccolte liguri,
1995 
(It is in Italian and perhaps not easy to find).

He compares the Voynich MS illustrations with those
in certain Italian herbals. The topic of animals
represented in the roots (and elsewhere) is part
of his discussion.
Note that this article is not mainly about the VMs,
but about the so-called alchemical herbals, to
which he relates the VMs.

Cheers, Rene

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