Voynich manuscript
Also known as MS 408
illustrated codex hand-written in an unknown writing system
AI overview
The Voynich Manuscript is a hand-written book filled with illustrations and text written in an unknown script that no one has been able to decipher despite centuries of study. It remains one of history's great mysteries because its purpose and meaning are completely unclear, making it a fascinating puzzle for cryptographers, linguists, and historians.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Internet Archive
dataA Structural and Semantic Interpretation of the Voynich Manuscript
View at Internet Archive →via archive.org
Wikidata facts
- Image
- Voynich Manuscript (32).jpg
Article
Evidence of retouching of text on page 3; f1r Retouching of drawing on page 131; f72v3
The Voynich manuscript is an illustrated codex, hand-written in an unknown script referred to as Voynichese. The vellum on which it is written has been carbon-dated to the early 15th century (1404–1438). Stylistic analysis has indicated the manuscript may have been composed in Italy during the Italian Renaissance. The origins, authorship, and purpose of the manuscript are still debated, but currently scholars lack the translation(s) and context needed to either properly entertain or eliminate any of the possibilities. Hypotheses range from a script for a natural language or constructed language, an unreadable code, cipher, or other form of cryptography, or perhaps a hoax, reference work (i.e. folkloric index or compendium), glossolalia, or work of fiction (e.g. science fantasy or mythopoeia, metafiction, and speculative fiction).