{$I=C $Q=N $P=B $L=B $H=3} # Last edited on 1998-10-09 03:56:00 by stolfi # # Identification: # # Title: "The four ages of Man" # Page: f85r2 = NB (Rene) = p??? (Stolfi) # Folio: f85 # Panels: f85r2 # Bifolio: bN1 = f85+f86 # Quire: N (Rene) = XIV (Beinecke) # # This is the verso of the top left panel of a 12-panel fold-out. # It is visible when the horizontal fold is closed but the vertical fold is open. # The left and bottom sides of the panel are folio edges. # The top side of the panel is the horizontal crease. # The right side of the panel is a vertical valley crease that # sits on top of the binding gutter. # # Attributes: # # Language: B (Currier) # Hand: 3 (Currier) # Subsets: C (Rene), cos (Stolfi) # Subject: cosmological # Colors: ??? (Reeds) # # Description: # # The page contains only a circular diagram. The outer frame consists # of a ring of text between two faint mechanically-drawn circles. The # starting point of the text is not evident. ( The whole arc between # 08:00 and 10:00 is unreadable in the source image. There is also an # extra-wide gap at 07:30, but it may be just a faded word.) # # At the center of the diagram is a sun with neutral expression # and narrow reverse-S-shaped rays. Surrounding it is a colored disk # textured with a whirlpool pattern, bent clockwise-out. # # The disk is framed by a circular band with six semicircular lobes # (one each at North and South, two each at West and East), containing # a ring of text and delimited by two narrow, decorated, cordon-like # borders. A double radial stroke, cutting across the frame at 09:00, # seems to mark the starting point of the text. The inner border of # the frame consists of two mechanically drawn circles, about a # millimeter apart, and is decorated by 10 pairs of double parentheses # (( )). The outer border is a hand drawn solid double line with a # line of dots down the middle. # # The space between the inner and outer frames is divided into unequal # sectors by four beams, placed like the arms of an "X". The beams are # narrower near the center than at the periphery. Each beam continues # past and under the outer frame, ending in a broad plume, resembling # a soft wet brush. The plume makes a sharp U-turn and passes again # behind the outer frame, while tapering down to a point. The NE plume # bends clockwise, the other three bend counterclockwise. # # Each sector between the outer and inner frames contains a paragraph # of text near the outer end (to be read clockwise), and a human # figure. The sex of the figures is indeterminate, as neither breasts # nor beards are visible. The South figure is leaning on a staff, and # looks like an old man or woman; the other three could be women or # young men, possibly children. # # The figures are partially hidden behind by the inner frame: the # South figure is hidden from the knees down by the inner frame, and # the other three are hidden from the waist down. All four figures # wear a colored, buttonless shirt, with long and narrow sleeves, # which in the South figure is seen to be a tunic or dress, ending # just above the knee. Ring collars are visible in the North and West # figures. All three figures have light hair, bushy over the ears and # cropped just below them. The East figure wears a dark # skullcap. # # The right hands of West, North, and East are hidden by the inner # frame. With the left hand, North seems to be pointing to the last # word of the text above (which sits on a line by itself); East holds # an unidentified dark object, consisting of two stacked bulbs of unequal # size, topped by a short spike (it could be a root); and West seems # to be holding a flower, shaped like a lily but dark colored. South # holds a staff with the left hand, and a chain with three huge rings # on his right. # # Comments: # # It has been conjectured that the four figures represent the Four # Ages of Man. If the diagram is to be read clockwise, like the text, # then West (who lies over the "start marker", by the way) would be # Infancy. However, East (with the skullcap) looks younger than the # other three. # ## {} # Outer ring of text # Last edited on 1998-12-10 05:22:59 by stolfi # # "U" transcription by J. Stolfi from scanned image (note: image is upside down). # # No obvious starting point. # Transcription starts at blot at 09:30 (in the illegible part). # odchdy.otedy.opoees.ar.chcthy.otchdy.otedy.otar.chepaiin.otadar.otodaiin.opoiin. otaiin.qopchchs.otchedy.olkaiin.odar.aloees.otchedy.qotedaiin.odar.o!cthody.shed aiin.olaiin.olfor.daiin.ol.lkech*.os.aiin.otchdy.dar.otees.ofaiin.chcphdar.{blot } ***!!!.ot***.opo!ar.ar.**cthy.otoldy.otody.otar.chepaiin.otodar.otodaiin.opaiin. otaiin.qopcha!r.otchedy.olkaiin.odar.aloees.otoeedy.qotedaiin.odar.o,cthody.shed aiin.o*aiin.olfar.daiin.ol.lkee**!*s.**!*.ot**l*.**r.*****.******.*******n.{blot } # ## {} # Paragraphs in sectors # Last edited on 1998-12-10 05:32:50 by stolfi # # "U" transcription by J. Stolfi from scanned image. # # Weirdos: # # &- = dash at mid-letter level. # &zh = like but with the plume turning forward? # # West sector, above man with flower in hand (illegible edge) # okees.olaiin.qokal.chdy.s!ary- ot******aiin.*.***.**dy.s.*sy- # qokshedy.qodain.chckh!y.ykeedy.chedy- **d***dy.*odain.chcthey.okeedy.chedy- # ar.aiin.ckhedy.or.ain.olchey.qokal.shedy- ******n.ckhedy.or,ain.olshey.qokal.shedy- # qokeody.qoekedy.do!dy.csedy.qodaiin- **keody.**ckhdy.do,dy.chedy.qodaiin- # !los.ar.shedy.qokshey.qoseey.or.aiinog- *lor.ar.shedy.qokshey.qoraly.or,aiinam- # {right justified}ol.lcheol.chol.ol.sheoly= {right justified}ol.lch*al.eeol.al.sheoly= # # North sector, above man with pointing finger # sain.or.or.aiin.opchdy- sain.or.or,aiin.opchdy- # qotor.sheedy.shodaiin.olfar.ar!y- qotor.sheedy.shodaiin.olfar,ar,y- # dair.sheo.oraiin.chol.daiin- dair.sheo.oraiin.chol,daiin- # ockhdor.olkor.shoral- ockhdar.olkar.shoral- # {right justified}sosees= {right justified}rosees= # # East sector, above child with object in hand. # pchedeey.olkey.qokedy.sheos.fcheey- pchedeey.olkey.qokedy.sheos.fcheey- # otchedy.chotey.qocthey.oteey.ol.oloe!!!!or!ain- otchedy.chotey.qocthey.oteey.ol.olo*{&-}or,ain- # daiin.qotaiin.tchedy.otedy.qotchdy.chckhey- daiin.qotaiin.tchedy.otedy.qotchdy.chckhey- # qtchedy.qodar.qotedar.qokar.qotchd.qotom- ytchedy.qodar.qotedar.qokar.qotchd.qotam- # soiis.aiin.shedaiin.chokcod={left justified} saiir,aiin.shedaiin.chokchg={left justified} # # South sector, above old man with chain and staff # otchs.shedor.chey.sorain-{frame} otchs.shodar.shey.sarain-{frame} # or.shedy.tedy.sodaiiin.chy-{frame} or.shedy.tedy.sodaii!n.chy-{frame} # ytedar.ch*!s.aiin.arody- ytedar.chees.aiin.asody- # ypsh!!!!edy.dar.chedy.or.am- yp*{&zh}edy.dar,shedy.or.am- # oteey.qodain.odain.an.chey- oteey.qodain.odain.ar.chey- # {right justified}orar.oldar.ain= {right justified}orar.oldar.ain= # ## {} # Inner ring of text # Last edited on 1998-12-10 05:21:09 by stolfi # # "U" transcription by J. Stolfi from scanned image. # # Transcription starts at 09:00, after the double radial stroke. okees.ochar.otedar.ochedy.otody.olchedy.otchdo.ar.or.air.ol.otees.a!r.ar.am= ykees.ochor.otedar.ochedy.otody.alchedy.oteedo.or.or.air,ol.otees.air.ar.am= #