there is still no proff that it came from the englishman

Has anyone suggested that the manuscript might be the work of someone with a form of insanity like Asperger's syndrome? There are many examples of similar works, combining script and illustration (especially combining nude bodies with text). These are meticulously "written" scripts--a sort of written glossolalia--that vaguely resemble letters. An example is the work of Dwight Mackintosh. The works we know are of the 20th century, but surely such people would have been around earlier. The style of drawing and letter formation would correspond to the times in which the work was produced. Trying to find meaning in the script would be hopeless in such case. But to an age obsessed with alchemy, the very fact of its being indecipherable would be enough to hold one's interest.

Has there ever been an attempt to date the ink? Also, -as the aspergers syndrome theory suggests- this may indeed be the product of a disordered or influenced mind. Ergot poisoning -much like "bad trips" on hallucinagenics- could also be a culprit. Prolonged ingestion could lead to such a disassociative state as to render perception of the natural, "real" world, impossible. To fill this vacuum an establishment (and continued reinforcement) of a subjective "alien" world would be necessary. Perhaps a new tact is called for and instead of wondering "what" the better question may be, "why?"

As Dr.Dunne has suggested, the WHY may lead insight to the WHAT.

However, since our knowledge of psychological disorders is far from complete, we cannot disrgard the by products of an 'afflicted' mind as simple rubbish.

For example, perhaps the author WAS in a different state of reality, and apon returning to this reality, was using the only means available to attempt to convey the TRUTH which was discerned. The TRUTH then, would be encrypted with the knowledge of the present reality.

This relates to the book of Gensis, in which the Tree of Knowledge introduces reason to man, and all subsequent attempts to comprehend the experience of the garden of eden are 'encrypted' in the 'knowledge' of the world. i.e. Parable.

The WHY in this case could act as a KEY to understand or experience the MINDSET of the author, within the context (or rather through the encryption) of todays knowledge base.

Eitehr way, whether WHY or WHAT/HOW, the search is still for a KEY to UNDERSTAND the MINDSET of the AUTHOR. And if it is infact a 'psychological affliction' you cannot full understand the mindset without experiencing it first hand.

I am very interested by the ideas posted here. As far as I know, nobody has looked into the possibility that the document could be the result of a condition such as Aspbergers, although it would be near impossible to conclusively prove. Of course, no-one is prepared to accept this, and it would leave us at a dead end, with an untranslatable document - rather defeatist.

If we assume that the manuscript was purchased by Rudolph II from an unknown source, then sadly it is highly likely that it is a fake. The relatively recent 'Hitler Diaries' showed that some people are prepared to put extensive effort into making elaborately faked documents in exchange for money. Fakes are a very major part of collecting esoterica. In some cases, early fakes, like this may prove to be, are highly demanded as fascinating curiosity pieces - even to the extent of people faking fakes...

In the end, I think that it will remain an unsolved mystery. If the language cannot be cracked mathmatically, or liguistically - then it if is genuine, it is probably a codebook language - possibly with words being randomly assigned to dictionary words based on their position in a line. Making it almost uncrackable.

However, it remains quite fascinating...

I agree that it maybe written by person with Asperger's, that would fit, OMG that would fit so well. I personally know a guy with Asperger's who has spent 3 years writing a perfect "novel". Perfect little micro-writing, a mathematically perfect novel. Amazing to see.

Compare the Voynich Manuscript with Urville, the imaginary city created by the French autistic savant Gilles Trehin. And also the books of Alfred Wainwright (he possibly had Asperger's). He wrote the acclaimed walking guides for the Lake District, UK. His books are all hand written, with tiny perfect script and drawings. Little gems.

Aspergers is not a form of insanity, and people with the condition are not delusional. It is a mild form of autism that tends to affect the way a person interacts socially or understands social behavior, facial expressions and language. It has nothing whatsoever to do with mental delusion.

The problem with the delusion idea postulated here is that it still doesn't explain HOW the book was made. It might explain WHY, but not HOW. The characters follow the patterns and rules of written language- it could not arbitrarily be produced. It is possible that there is no encrypted message and that the author was delusional, but that does not explain how he created the book. Whether it is a real encrypted message, a hoax or a product of delusion, the author of the manuscript set down with a meticulous process and created the language of the book- regardless of true meaning.

You know it could be a medical text book.
Some of the so called flowers look like disguised
anatomical diagrams of a female nature.

I believe it is a book of a theory about how human life existed, someone have in the 15 century that goes against the thinking of the church. I think the theory is woman were created from or inside a plant which her spirit is guided by a star.

I have my reasons to believe that the author of this book is Leonardo Da Vinci, and it's written in medieval italian with an elegant style. Of course in that case; anagrams are a must. The guy likes to confuse human beings with his supreme genius. Barf.

Ozzy,

Could you elaborate upon your reasons that lead you to believe the author is Leonardo Da Vinci?

What is the time period you refer to as "medieval italian". Since Da Vinci was born in 1452 he is more closely associated with the Renaissance than the Medieval period which is widely considered to have ran it's course by the middle of the 1300's.

Also, "an elegant style" is hardly the province of a single person as I'm positive many of those who could write at the time did so with elegance.

"Of course in that case; anagrams are a must."

This type of logic is known as "post hoc ergo propter hoc" -after this therefore because of this. Just because one writes elegantly doesn't mean they have to use anagrams.

"The guy likes to confuse human beings with his supreme genius."

Actually, much of Da Vinci's works would have been considered heretical by the church. His backwards writing was more likely in effort to disguise his writings (or a result of severe dyslexia) than to impress the world with his genius. He didn't need to impress anyone; his works did.

I wonder- could it be a treatise on midwifery? All those large-bellied ladies seem to be in birthing pools, which I believe were used in the past, as well as today. The plants could have analgesic or anti-emetic properties, perhaps- how many of these plants have been identified, and have their properties been listed? The stars might indicate possible zodiacal links with plants or babies born at different times of the year. Another thought- is the text in "mirror writing"?

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