The book that no-one can explain
The Voynich Manuscript is a mysterious illustrated book written in a language and script that remain unknown, despite intense study.
Named after the antique book-dealer who acquired it in 1912, it is thought to have been written in either the 15th or 16th century.
The script uses 20-30 distinct letters, which were written with a smooth, flowing ductus, by someone familiar with the script. The book also features illustrations of plants, bodies, and star patterns.
Theories about the books language abound, but non are proven:
- It’s simply a cipher for an existing European language.
- It’s an exotic natural language, written in an invented script.
- It’s glossolalia: meaningless, stream-of-consciousness writing.
- It’s a constructed language not based on an existing one.
- It’s meaning is hidden by stenography: most of it is nonsense.
- It’s a hoax; a meaningless string of arbitrary symbols.
I’m delighted that such a cultural mystery remains unsolved in modern times. It leads me to imagine what other curious languages, books and stories may have been lost to the sands of time.
Have a look for yourself on Flickr, or learn more on Wikipedia.
