Voynich Manuscript

Voynich Manuscript, as scanned by Yale University's Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library. This mysterious book was written circa 1500 CE (plus or minus 100 years) in an unknown language, perhaps a cipher. It includes a multitude of strange botanical, astronomical, and physiological illustrations. It may be scientific, alchemical, or mystic in nature. Some illustrations seem to be herbal remedies and others astrological readings. But, no one knows for certain. Experts and scholars have tried to decipher the Voynich Manuscript for centuries. In the 17th century, Joannes Marcus Marci wrote, “To its deciphering [Georg Baresch] devoted unflagging toil [...], and he relinquished hope only with his life. But his toil was in vain, for such Sphinxes as these obey no one but their master...” Over the years, many have claimed success only to be shown lacking in one way or another. As Fagin Davis, Executive Director of the Medieval Academy of America puts it, a convincing solution requires: ① sound first principles; ② be reproducible by others; ③ conformance to linguistic and codicological facts; ④ text that makes sense; ⑤ a logical correspondence of text and illustration. Please do take a crack at puzzling out this tome, but before you claim success, make sure you have checked all the boxes. Good luck!