In the quest to untangle Voynichese as a type of (quasi-linguistic) astrological notation, I can approach it as follows:
In the volvelles of f57v it is implied that each glyph is equal to 5 degrees of the ecliptic. That is: 18 x 4 = 72 x 5 = 360.
(I won't argue about the number of glyphs in the volvelles here. I insist there is a system of 72.)
This might be tested as a working principle operating in the text. One glyph (or glyph space and perhaps word break spaces too) = 5 deg.
Let us adopt this is our structural unit.
One glyph = 5˚
In older astrological texts 5 deg. units are referred to as 'Faces'. (Modern astrological texts, on the other hand, are almost entirely unhelpful on this matter, as in every other respect.) I will adopt the term FACES for convenience. One Face = 5 deg.
Thirty degrees is a SIGN, ten degrees is a DECANATE and five degrees is a FACE.
* * *
If one glyph equals 5 degrees, then both of our paradigmatic words, our templates, equal 30 degrees. That is, one zodiacal sign, one solar month.
Applied to our paradigm, QOKEEDY, we calculate it as: Q + O + K + EE + D + Y = 30 degrees.
The same is true of our other paradigm, CHOLDAIIN if we count it: CH + O + L + D + A + IIN = 30 degrees. It also represents one zodiacal sign, one solar month.
Both the paradigmatic words, the templates upon which the text is built, represent solar months. This follows if one glyph = 5 deg. (or one astrological Face.)
We must note the distinction between the two paradigms, though. CHOLDAIIN readily bifurcates into CHOL and DAIIN.
In the case of QOKEEDY one word = one solar month.
In the case of CHOLDAIIN two words, CHOL and DAIIN = one solar month (in two halves).
In either case the formula is: 6 x 5 = 30.
It also follows that bigrams are decanates (10 deg.) and trigrams are 15 degrees or half a zodiac sign or half a solar month.
QOKEEDY makes the bigrams [qo], [kee], [dy]. 3 x 10 = 30.
CHOLDAIIN makes the trigrams [chol] and [daiin]. 2 x 15 = 30.
QOKEEDY supplies the model for the decanates. CHOLDAIIN provides the model for half-months.
|
10˚ |
20˚ |
30˚ |
|
QO |
KEE |
DY |
|
15˚ |
30˚ |
|
CHOL |
DAIIN |
* * *
What are our paradigms? They are zodiacal signs, or more correctly SOLAR MONTHS, divisions of the ecliptic by thirty degrees. Thirty solar days.
Each solar month is divided into six periods of five days, or three decanates.
It is also bifurcated into two periods of fifteen solar days, half months, as in the trigrams CHOL and DAIIN.
* * *
It now follows that twelve of such words (or twenty-four trigrams) equal a year. Or 72 glyphs equal a year.
This, then, is presumably the basis for the LINE as a unit. The model is twelve words of six glyphs each. (Or twenty-four words of three glyphs each.)
If a glyph = 5 deg. and a word = six glyphs = 30 deg., then twelve words = 360 deg.
Or if a glyph = 5 deg. and a word = three glyphs = 15 deg., then twenty-four words = 360 deg.
Three (or six) words = a season, or a quarter of the year.
* * *
These structures conform more or less to what we encounter in the text. Words have an average length of about six glyphs and lines have an average length around ten to twelve words.
These averages depend upon what is being counted, though, and there are no settled numbers. They are rubbery. We can only say that these figures are approximately true of the text in general.
* * *
The equation one glyph = 5 deg. and six glyphs = one solar month or zodiac sign, produces an unweildly chronological arc for the text overall.
The number of words in the text is also a rubbery figure but let us say 35,000 words.
That amounts to 35,000 solar months or a period of just under 3000 years.
This is not to say the text covers such a period, but there is nearly 3000 year's worth of data. This is to say there are nearly 3000 lines worth of text.
If each word is a solar month, the text has representations of around 35,000 solar months and the corresponding number of years.
R.B.
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