Page: f85r2 Title: "The four ages of Man"
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
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 shedaiin olaiin olfor daiin
ol lkech* os aiin otchdy dar otees ofaiin chcphdar {blot}
Weirdos:
&- = dash at mid-letter level.
&zh = like <sh> but with the plume turning forward?
West sector, above man with flower in hand (illegible edge)
1:okees olaiin qokal chdy s!ary
2:qokshedy qodain chckh!y ykeedy chedy
3:ar aiin ckhedy or ain olchey qokal shedy
4:qokeody qoekedy do!dy csedy qodaiin
5:!los ar shedy qokshey qoseey or aiinog
5a:ol lcheol chol ol sheoly
North sector, above man with pointing finger
6:sain or or aiin opchdy
7:qotor sheedy shodaiin olfar ar!y
8:dair sheo oraiin chol daiin
9:ockhdor olkor shoral
10:sosees
East sector, above child with object in hand.
11:pchedeey olkey qokedy sheos fcheey
12:otchedy chotey qocthey oteey ol oloe!!!!or!ain
13:daiin qotaiin tchedy otedy qotchdy chckhey
14:qtchedy qodar qotedar qokar qotchd qotom
15:soiis aiin shedaiin chokcod
South sector, above old man with chain and staff
16:otchs shedor chey sorain
17:or shedy tedy sodaiiin chy
18:ytedar ch*!s aiin arody
19:ypsh!!!!edy dar chedy or am
20:oteey qodain odain an chey
21:orar oldar ain
Paragraph: C2
Inner ring of text
Last edited on 1998-12-10 05:21:09 by stolfi
Transcription starts at 09:00, after the double radial stroke.
1:okees ochar otedar ochedy otody olchedy otchdo ar or air
ol otees a!r ar am
