A Testable Model of the
Voynich Manuscript’s
Pharmaceutical Structure
A corpus-verified structural analysis identifying properties consistent with a pharmaceutical formulary encoding spagyric processes. All statistics independently reproducible from the public Zandbergen-Landini IVTFF transcription.
Academic Integrity Notice: This site presents structural evidence and interpretive hypotheses, not proven decipherment. All statistics are independently reproducible from the public Zandbergen-Landini IVTFF transcription. Operational labels (HEAT, EXTRACT, SALT, etc.) are post-hoc interpretive glosses, not confirmed translations. Physical experimental validation is currently underway. Read the paper on Zenodo →
The Full Paper is Publicly Available
All statistics, methods, and competing hypothesis evaluations are documented in the Zenodo repository.
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.19776068 | All claims independently reproducible from the public IVTFF corpus
What the Evidence Shows
A structural framework identifying 12 recurring stems, 18 suffix classes, and measurable type-token patterns across the entire Voynich corpus. Interpretive labels are post-hoc glosses, not confirmed translations.
Recurring Structural Stems
che (HEAT), ch (PROCESS), qok (EXTRACT), kch (COOL), Sh (SALT), ok (COMPLETE), cTh/cKh (PLANT), yk (STATE), yt (TEMPORAL), ot (RESULT), p (IMPERATIVE), okal (FINALIZE). Labels are interpretive glosses; not confirmed translations.
Suffix Classes
-ody/-eody (perfected product), -edy (completed), -dy (product), -y (state), -ol/-or/-ar (result/variant/instrument), -aiin (collective), plus 11 more encoding result states. All labels are interpretive.
Tokens Analyzed
Complete corpus from Zandbergen-Landini IVTFF (Interlinear Transcription File Format) spanning ~125 folios, 10,169 tokens, 3,137 unique types classified across herbal, pharmaceutical, and biological sections.
Avg Process Clusters
Each folio contains 2-5 token instruction units (process clusters) encoding pharmaceutical operations from heat application to product completion and collection.
Competing Hypotheses Tested
6 discriminating structural predictions tested against 5 competing hypotheses. Spagyric model scored 6/6; closest competitor scored 1.5/6.
Post-Hoc Predictions Confirmed
5 pre-registered predictions on held-out folio f11r, all confirmed post-hoc. Positional encoding: vertical zone mapping to plant anatomy, chi-squared = 47.3.
Structural Analysis Protocol
Instead of asking "what does it say," we asked "what does it DO." A two-phase protocol with 17 specialized analytical methods.
Phase 1: Feature Extraction
Distributional Analysis
Identified 12 operational stems by positional frequency and co-occurrence patterns across 10,169 tokens. No semantic assumptions.
FoundationPositional Encoding
Mapped vertical zones to plant anatomy (root, stem, leaf, flower). Chi-squared = 47.3, p < 0.001 against null model.
ConfirmedCluster Analysis
Identified process clusters: 2-5 token instruction units with 5.8 per folio average, separated by daiin boundary markers.
StructuralSuffix Classification
18 suffix classes encoding result states: perfected products, completed actions, collective nouns, instruments.
MorphologicalPhase 2: Interpretive Framework
External Anchor Mapping
Linked structural stem patterns to historical pharmaceutical terminology through 7 period sources (Dioscorides, Fuchs, Paracelsus). Alignments are interpretive parallels, not proof of equivalence.
5 HIGH matchesNull Model Testing
10-run randomized control: real corpus maintains execution continuity; shuffled text shows zero continuity (p < 0.001).
ValidatedBlind Test Protocol
5 pre-registered predictions on held-out f11r. All 5 confirmed post-hoc including daiin boundary and terminal marker positions.
5/5 PassedCompeting Hypotheses Evaluation
6 discriminating structural predictions tested against 5 competing hypotheses (astronomical, alchemical only, cipher, hoax, herbal only).
Spagyric 6/6Stem-Suffix Framework
12 recurring stems identified by positional analysis, with interpretive pharmaceutical glosses. These are structural patterns, not confirmed translations.
12 Operational Stems
| Stem | Interpretive Label | Structural Function | Allomorphs | Example Token | Example Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| che | HEAT | Apply fire/heat to vessel or material | — | cheody | Apply heat → perfected product (interpretive) |
| ch | PROCESS | General processing, transform matter | — | chody | Process → perfected (interpretive) |
| qok | EXTRACT | Draw out essence, distill, separate | qok→qot | qokchody | Extract + cool → perfected (interpretive) |
| kch | COOL | Allow to cool, reduce temperature | — | ykchody | State-change + cool → perfected (interpretive) |
| Sh | SALT | Fix with salt, salting operation | — | Shol | Salt fix → resulting product (interpretive) |
| ok | COMPLETE | Finish operation, finalize step | ok→okal | okcheody | Complete + heat → perfected (interpretive) |
| cTh | PLANT-ID | Identify primary plant (mugwort) | — | cThody | Mugwort → perfected (interpretive) |
| cKh | PLANT-VAR | Identify plant variant (rose) | — | cKhody | Plant variant → perfected (interpretive) |
| yk | STATE-MOD | Change state, prepare condition | — | ykchody | State-change + cool → perfected (interpretive) |
| yt | TEMPORAL | Then, next, after (sequence marker) | — | yteody | Then → perfected quintessence (interpretive) |
| ot | RESULT | The result is (output marker) | — | otchol | The result is → processed product (interpretive) |
| p | IMPERATIVE | Command: begin, start operation | — | pchodar | Begin: process with instrument (interpretive) |
Key Suffix Classes (Interpretive)
| Suffix | Class | Function | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| -eody | PERFECTED-PROD | Perfected quintessence (highest product grade) | okcheody |
| -ody | PERFECTED | Perfected, completed product | cheody |
| -edy | COMPLETED | Operation completed | okchedy |
| -dy | PRODUCT | General product output | otcholdy |
| -y | STATE | State marker, condition indicator | chey |
| -ol | RESULT-PROD | Resulting product | otchol |
| -or | VARIANT | Variant form | chotor |
| -ar | INSTRUMENT | Instrument or tool | pchodar |
| -aiin | COLLECTIVE | Collective noun, batch marker | daiin |
Structural Elements (Measured)
| Element | Function | Distribution |
|---|---|---|
| daiin / daii / dai | Batch boundary delimiter — separates process clusters | Avg 8 per folio, consistent across all 125 folios |
| okal | Finalization marker — signals end of recipe | Appears at cluster terminus, ~5.8 per folio |
| dam | Vessel/container reference | Associated with salt operations |
| Vertical Position | Anatomical zone mapping (root/stem/leaf/flower) | Chi-squared = 47.3, p < 0.001 |
Complete Plant Corpus
150 folios cross-referenced with medieval herbal traditions. 69 high-confidence identifications with scholarly consensus across Vatne, Tucker/O'Neill, and Scott. Plant names remain image-carried; botanical identifications are drawn from Tucker & Janick and are contested by some scholars.
Total Folios
Documented across 18 quires
High Confidence
Strong scholarly consensus, multiple independent sources agree
Medium-High
Good evidence, Vatne etymology or strong visual match
Medium
Reasonable hypothesis, some scholarly agreement
| Folio | Primary Identification | Vatne (2022) | ThP / O'Neill | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| f1r | Atropa belladonna / Belladonna, Deadly Nightshade | — | Atropa, Solanum, Solatrium | Medium |
| f1v | Ranunculus flammula / Lesser spearwort, Water crowfoot | Ranunculus flammula / Lesser spearwort | Ranunculus | Medium-High |
| f2r | Eupatorium cannabinum / Hemp-agrimony, Holy rope | Eupatorium Cannabinum / Holy rope | Eupatorium | High |
| f2v | Nymphaea alba / White Water lily | Nymphaea alba / Water lily | Nymphaea alba, Nenufar | High |
| f3r | Asplenium ceterach / Rustyback fern | Asplenium ceterach / rusty back | — | Medium-High |
| f3v | Aconitum napellus / Monkshood, Wolf's bane | Aconitum napellus / Monkshood | — | High |
| f4r | Reseda luteola / Dyer's rocket, Weld | Reseda luteola / Dyer's rocket | — | High |
| f4v | Pulsatilla vulgaris / Pasque flower, Windflower | Pulsatilla vulgaris / Windflower | — | High |
| f5r | Paris quadrifolia / Herb Paris, True lover's knot | Paris quadrifolia / Herb paris | Paeonia | High |
| f5v | Ranunculus asiaticus / Persian buttercup | Anemone coronaria or Ranunculus asiaticus | Anemone | Medium |
| f6r | Vicia sativa / Common vetch | Vicia sativa or faba / common vetch | Asclepiades, Aristolochia? | Medium |
| f6v | Ricinus communis / Castor bean | Ricinus communis / castor bean | Asclepiades | High |
| f7r | Plantago lanceolata / Ribwort plantain | Plantago lanceolata / Ribwort | Nymphaea alba (disputed) | High |
| f7v | Erigeron acris / Blue fleabane | Erigeron acris / blue fleabane | Parietaria (O'Neill) / Geranium (ELV) | Medium |
| f8r | Lactuca muralis / Wall lettuce (or Tussilago farfara / Coltsfoot) | Lactuca muralis / Wall lettuce or Tussilago farfara | — | Medium |
| f8v | Calendula officinalis / Pot marigold | Calendula officinalis / Common marigold | — | High |
| f9r | Crambe maritima / Sea kale (or Brassica oleracea) | Brassica oleracea or Crambe maritima | — | Medium |
| f9v | Viola tricolor / Wild pansy, Heartsease | Viola tricolor / Wild pansy | Viola, Pansy (agreed) | High |
| f10r | Centaurea cyanus / Cornflower | Centaurea cyanus / Cornflower | Cyanus, Centaurea | High |
| f10v | Symphytum officinale / Comfrey | Symphytum officinale / Comfrey | — | High |
| f11r | Verbena officinalis / Vervain, Holy herb | Verbena officinalis / Vervain | — | High |
| f11v | Ajuga reptans / Bugle | Ajuga reptans / Bugle | Leonotus, Leonurus | High |
| f13r | Petasites hybridus / Butterbur | Petasites hybridus / Common butterbur | Petasites (agreed) | Medium-High |
| f13v | UNKNOWN - possibly Lonicera / Honeysuckle | — | — | Low |
| f14r | Rumex acetosa / Common sorrel | Rumex acetosa / Common sorrel | — | High |
| f14v | Levisticum officinale / Lovage | Levisticum officinale / Lovage | — | High |
| f15r | Carlina vulgaris / Carline thistle | Carlina vulgaris or acaulis / Carline thistle | — | Medium |
| f15v | Verbascum thapsus / Great mullein, Aaron's rod | Verbascum thapsus / Great mullein | — | High |
| f16r | UNKNOWN - possibly Cannabis sativa / Hemp | Some kind of Brassica / Cabbage or kale | — | Low |
| f16v | Eryngium maritimum / Sea holly | Eryngium maritimum / Sea holly | — | High |
| f17r | UNKNOWN - possibly Aster amellus / Italian aster | — | — | Low-Medium |
| f17v | Smilax aspera / Rough bindweed | Smilax aspera / Rough bindweed | — | High |
| f18r | Tripolium pannonicum / Sea aster | Tripolium pannonicum / Sea aster | Cyanus? (disputed) | Medium |
| f18v | Apium graveolens / Celery (or smallage) | Apium graveolens / Celery | — | Medium-High |
| f19r | Polemonium caeruleum / Jacob's ladder | Polemonium caeruleum / Greek valerian | — | High |
| f19v | Valeriana officinalis / Valerian | Valeriana officinalis / Valerian | — | High |
| f20r | Thymus serpyllum / Wild thyme | Thymus serpyllum / Thyme | — | High |
| f20v | Gentiana pneumonanthe / Marsh gentian | Gentiana pneumonanthe / Marsh gentian | — | Medium-High |
| f21r | Heliotropium europaeum / Heliotrope | Heliotropium europaeum / Heliotrope | — | Medium-High |
| f21v | Nasturtium officinale / Watercress | Nasturtium officinale / Water cress | — | Medium |
| f22r | Pulmonaria officinalis / Lungwort | Pulmonaria officinalis / Lungwort | — | High |
| f22v | Lactuca virosa / Wild lettuce | Lactuca virosa or sativa / Wild or cultivated lettuce | — | Medium-High |
| f23r | UNKNOWN - climbing plant with yellow flowers | — | — | Low |
| f23v | Aquilegia vulgaris / European columbine | Aquilegia vulgaris / European Columbine | — | High |
| f24r | Sempervivum tectorum / Houseleek | Sempervivum tectorum / Houseleek | — | High |
| f24v | Anchusa officinalis / Common bugloss | Anchusa officinalis / Common bugloss | — | Medium-High |
| f25r | Marrubium vulgare / White horehound | Marrubium vulgare / White horehound | — | High |
| f25v | Asplenium scolopendrium / Hart's tongue fern | Asplenium scolopendrium / Hart's tongue fern | — | Medium-High |
| f26r | UNKNOWN - dense bushel, possibly grass or sedge | — | — | Very Low |
| f26v | UNKNOWN - herb with blue dots on leaves | — | — | Very Low |
| f27r | Eruca sativa / Rocket | Eruca sativa / Rocket | — | Medium |
| f27v | UNKNOWN - Apiaceae / Carrot family, possibly Daucus carota | Apiaceae family / Carrot family herb | — | Low-Medium |
| f28r | Heliotropium europaeum / Heliotrope (confirmation) | Heliotropium europaeum / Heliotrope | — | Medium-High |
| f28v | Polypodium vulgare / Common polypody | Polypodium vulgare / Common polypody | — | Medium |
| f29r | Dipsacus fullonum / Wild teasel | Dipsacus fullonum / Wild teasel | — | Medium-High |
| f29v | Cynoglossum officinale / Houndstongue | Cynoglossum officinale / Houndstongue | — | High |
| f30r | Delphinium staphisagria / Lice-bane, Stavesacre | Delphinium staphisagria / Lice-bane | — | High |
| f30v | Solanum nigrum / Black nightshade | Solanum nigrum / Black nightshade | — | High |
| f31r | Rubia tinctorum / Rose madder | Rubia tinctorum or peregrina / Wild or rose madder | — | High |
| f31v | Scandix pecten-veneris / Shepherd's needle | Scandix pecten-veneris / Shepherd's needle | — | Medium-High |
| f32r | Clematis vitalba / Old man's beard | Clematis vitalba / Old man's beard | — | Medium-High |
| f32v | UNKNOWN - possibly Campanula rotundifolia / Harebell | — | — | Low-Medium |
| f33r | Silene vulgaris / Bladder campion | Silene vulgaris / Bladder campion | — | Medium |
| f33v | Tanacetum parthenium / Feverfew | Tanacetum parthenium / Feverfew | — | High |
| f34r | Cirsium arvense / Canada thistle | Cirsium arvense / Creeping thistle | — | Medium |
| f34v | Lunaria annua / Honesty, Money plant | Lunaria annua / Honesty, Money plant | — | Medium-High |
| f35r | Helleborus niger / Black hellebore | Helleborus niger / Black hellebore | — | High |
| f35v | Ribes nigrum / Black currant | Ribes nigrum / Black currant | — | Medium |
| f36r | Ecballium elaterium / Squirting cucumber | Ecballium elaterium / Squirting cucumber | — | High |
| f36v | Lamium amplexicaule / Henbit dead-nettle | Lamium amplexicaule / Henbit | — | Medium-High |
| f37r | Mentha longifolia / Horse mint | Mentha longifolia / Mint | — | Medium-High |
| f37v | Emilia fosbergii / Tassel flower | Emilia fosbergii / Tassel flower | — | Medium |
| f38r | Equisetum arvense / Horsetail (BEST GUESS) | Equisetum arvense / Horsetail | — | Medium |
| f38v | Euphorbia myrsinites / Myrtle spurge | Euphorbia myrsinites / Myrtle spurge | — | Medium-High |
| f39r | Crocus sativus / Saffron crocus (BEST GUESS) | Crocus sativus / Saffron | — | Medium |
| f39v | Tagetes patula / French marigold | Tagetes patula / French marigold | — | Medium-High |
| f40r | Erodium malacoides / Stork's bill | Erodium malacoides / Stork's bill | — | High |
| f40v | Sempervivum tectorum / Houseleek (confirmation) | Sempervivum tectorum / Houseleek | — | High |
| f41r | Thalictrum flavum / Common meadow-rue | Thalictrum flavum / Common Meadow-rue | — | Medium |
| f41v | Coriandrum sativum / Coriander | Coriandrum sativum / Coriander | — | High |
| f42r | Typhonium flagelliforme / Rodent tuber (BEST GUESS) | Typhonium flagelliforme / Rodent tuber | — | Low-Medium |
| f42v | Aquilegia vulgaris / European columbine (confirmation) | Aquilegia vulgaris / European Columbine | — | High |
| f43r | Stellaria media / Chickweed | Stellaria media / Chickweed | — | High |
| f43v | Elytrigia repens / Couch grass (or Fagopyrum esculentum) | Elytrigia repens / Couch grass | — | Medium |
| f44r | Tanacetum vulgare / Tansy (or Mandragora / Mandrake) | Tanacetum vulgare / Tansy | Veratrum? | Medium |
| f44v | Apium graveolens / Celery (confirmation) | Apium graveolens / Celery | — | High |
| f45r | Atriplex hortensis / Orach, Garden orach | Atriplex hortensis / Orach | — | High |
| f45v | Lavandula angustifolia / English lavender | Lavandula angustifolia / Lavender | — | High |
| f46r | Leucanthemum vulgare / Oxeye daisy | Leucanthemum vulgare / Oxeye daisy | — | High |
| f46v | Inula conyza / Ploughman's spikenard | Inula conyza / Ploughman's spikenard | — | Medium |
| f47r | Sempervivum tectorum / Houseleek (or Alchemilla / Lady's mantle) | Sempervivum tectorum / Houseleek | — | High |
| f47v | Pulmonaria officinalis / Lungwort (or Arnica) | Pulmonaria officinalis / Lungwort | — | High |
| f48r | Hyoscyamus niger / Black henbane (or Adonis / False hellebore) | Hyoscyamus niger / Black henbane | — | Medium |
| f48v | Ruta graveolens / Rue, Herb of grace | Ruta graveolens / Rue | — | High |
| f49r | Alcea rosea / Hollyhock (or Malva sylvestris) | Alcea or Malva / Hollyhock or mallow | — | Medium |
| f49v | Centella asiatica / Gotu kola | Centella asiatica / Gotu kola | — | Medium |
| f50r | Astrantia major / Masterwort | Astrantia major / Masterwort | — | High |
| f50v | Gentiana frigida / Stiff gentian | Gentiana frigida / Stiff gentian | — | Medium |
| f51r | Cakile maritima / Sea rocket | Cakile maritima / Sea rocket | — | High |
| f51v | Salvia officinalis / Sage | Salvia officinalis / Sage | — | High |
| f52r | Anemone coronaria / Poppy anemone | Anemone coronaria / Poppy anemone | — | High |
| f52v | Peucedanum officinale / Hog's fennel (or Polystichum fern) | Peucedanum officinale / Hog's fennel | — | Medium |
| f53r | Ilex aquifolium / Holly (or Achillea ptarmica) | Ilex aquifolium / Holly | — | Medium |
| f53v | Hieracium aurantiacum / Orange hawkweed | Hieracium aurantiacum / Orange hawkweed | — | High |
| f54r | Cirsium oleraceum / Cabbage thistle | Cirsium oleraceum / Cabbage thistle | — | High |
| f54v | Solanum dulcamara / Bittersweet (or Perovskia / Russian sage) | Solanum dulcamara / Bittersweet nightshade | — | Medium |
| f55r | Fumaria officinalis / Common fumitory | Fumaria officinalis / Fumitory | — | High |
| f55v | Brassica oleracea / Broccoli or Cauliflower | Brassica oleracea / Broccoli | — | High |
| f56r | Drosera intermedia / Sundew | Drosera intermedia / Sundew | — | High |
| f56v | Cycas revoluta / Sago palm (or Zamia) | Cycas revoluta / Sago palm | — | High |
| f57r | Geranium robertianum / Herb-Robert (or Sherardia arvensis) | Geranium robertianum / Herb-Robert | — | Medium |
| f65r | Alchemilla vulgaris / Lady's mantle | Alchemilla vulgaris / Lady's mantle | Geranium? | High |
| f65v | Centaurea cyanus / Cornflower | Centaurea cyanus / Cornflower | Anthemis, Chamomile | High |
| f66v | Satureja montana / Winter savory | Satureja montana / Winter savory | Primula? Aristolochia? | Medium-High |
| f87r | Satureja hortensis / Summer savory | Satureja hortensis / Summer savory | — | High |
| f87v | LEFT: Primula vulgaris / Primrose | RIGHT: Achillea millefolium / Yarrow | LEFT: Primula vulgaris | RIGHT: Tanacetum vulgare / Tansy | LEFT: primula | RIGHT: tansy, wegrain, schafgarbe | Medium-High |
| f89v | Zantedeschia aethiopica / Calla lily (or Arum maculatum) | Zantedeschia / Calla lily | — | Medium |
| f90r1 | Papaver somniferum / Opium poppy | Papaver somniferum / Opium poppy | Poppy, Papaver somniferum (Holm) | High |
| f90r2 | Artemisia absinthium / Wormwood | Artemisia absinthium / Wormwood | Wermuth, absinthium, artemisium | High |
| f90v1 | Eruca vesicaria / Rocket, Arugula | Eruca vesicaria / Arugula, Rocket | — | High |
| f90v2 | Conyza bonariensis / Fleabane (or Erigeron) | Conyza bonariensis / Fleabane | Xeranthium? Osmunda regalis? | High |
| f93r | Tanacetum vulgare / Tansy (or Cynara cardunculus / Artichoke) | Tanacetum vulgare / Tansy | O'Neill: Sunflower? (disputed) | High |
| f93v | Actaea rubra / Red baneberry (or A. spicata) | Actaea rubra / Red baneberry | — | High |
| f94r | Glechoma hederacea / Ground ivy (or Botrychium lunaria / Moonwort) | Glechoma hederacea / Ground ivy | Botrychium lunaria? (moonwort) | Medium |
| f94v | Agrostemma githago / Corncockle (or Glycyrrhiza glabra / Liquorice) | Agrostemma githago / Corncockle | — | Medium |
| f95r1 | Glycyrrhiza glabra / Liquorice | Glycyrrhiza glabra / Liquorice | — | Medium-High |
| f95r2 | Plantago lanceolata / Ribwort plantain (confirmation) | Plantago lanceolata / Ribwort | — | High |
| f95v1 | Althaea rosea / Hollyhock (or Alcea rosea) | Althaea rosea / Hollyhock | — | High |
| f95v2 | Sambucus nigra / Elderberry | Sambucus nigra / Elderberry | Actaea? Baneberry? | High |
| f96r | Helleborus foetidus / Stinking hellebore | Helleborus foetidus / Stinking hellebore | Smilax tracheia, Chenopodium | High |
| f96v | Dioscorea communis / Black bryony (or Tamus communis) | Dioscorea communis / Black bryony | Smilas, Chenopodium | High |
| f99r | UNKNOWN - pharmaceutical page with roots and plant parts | — | — | Very Low |
| f99v | Dionaea muscipula / Venus flytrap (BEST GUESS - anachronistic) | — | — | Very Low |
| f100r | UNKNOWN - pharmaceutical page with roots | — | — | Very Low |
| f100v | UNKNOWN - pharmaceutical page with plant parts | — | — | Very Low |
| f101r | UNKNOWN - pharmaceutical page | — | — | Very Low |
| f101v1 | Zingiber officinale / Ginger (BEST GUESS) | — | — | Low |
| f102r1 | Atropa belladonna / Belladonna (same as f1r?) | — | Same as f1r | Medium |
| f103r | UNKNOWN - pharmaceutical page with roots | — | — | Very Low |
| f104r | UNKNOWN - pharmaceutical page with leaves | — | — | Very Low |
| f105r | UNKNOWN - pharmaceutical page with plant parts | — | — | Very Low |
| f106r | UNKNOWN - pharmaceutical page with seeds/pods | — | — | Very Low |
| f107r | UNKNOWN - pharmaceutical page | — | — | Very Low |
| f108r | UNKNOWN - pharmaceutical page with leaves | — | — | Very Low |
| f111r | UNKNOWN - pharmaceutical page | — | — | Very Low |
| f112r | UNKNOWN - pharmaceutical page with roots | — | — | Very Low |
| f113r | UNKNOWN - pharmaceutical page with plant parts | — | — | Very Low |
| f114r | UNKNOWN - pharmaceutical page with leaves | — | — | Very Low |
| f115r | UNKNOWN - pharmaceutical page | — | — | Very Low |
| f116r | UNKNOWN - pharmaceutical page with roots | — | — | Very Low |
Folio Analyses
Five folios analyzed using the structural stem-suffix framework with interpretive pharmaceutical glosses. These are testable hypotheses, not confirmed translations. Physical experiments currently underway.
Mugwort / Rose Quintessence
Process: Dual-plant heat extraction
Interpretive Reading: Command to begin: apply heat to the plant matter until the quintessence is perfected. Extract the cooled product. Prepare and heat the mugwort; process to extract. Then complete the perfected product.
Spirits of Wine
Process: Distillation protocol
Interpretive Reading: Prepare the spirits of wine: extract through cooling distillation. The process yields plant extract. Heat the mugwort variant; extract the completed product. The result is the perfected distillate of wine spirits.
True Saffron Extraction
Process: Single-plant quintessence
Interpretive Reading: Extract the perfected product: process and heat until the quintessence is completed. Begin: apply heat to true saffron plant matter. The result is perfected saffron quintessence, extracted through heat and cooled.
Compounded Emulsion
Process: Multi-phase recipe
Interpretive Reading: The plant is heated; extract and complete. Begin: process the heated quintessence to extract the perfected product. The perfected product is the emulsified compound of multiple plant extracts, prepared in sequence.
Three-Vessel Distillation
Process: Advanced preparation
Interpretive Reading: Extract the prepared state of mugwort: process, extract, and heat. The plant matter is processed through heat; extract the perfected product. The three-vessel method yields perfected quintessence through staged heating cycles.
Evidence & Validation
Every structural claim supported by statistical testing on the public IVTFF corpus, competing hypothesis evaluation, and historical source alignment.
91.6% vocabulary diversity across 10,169 tokens. A corpus statistic, not a translation coverage metric.
5 pre-registered predictions on held-out f11r, all confirmed post-hoc
Spagyric model vs 5 competing hypotheses. Closest competitor: 1.5/6
Positional encoding p < 0.001. Vertical zones map to plant anatomy
10-run randomized control: real corpus has execution continuity shuffled lacks
2-5 token instruction units per folio encoding pharmaceutical operations
Historical Alignment
Identified structural patterns are consistent with 7 historical pharmaceutical sources spanning 1300-1600:
| Source | Period | Alignment |
|---|---|---|
| Dioscorides, De Materia Medica | c. 50-70 CE (medieval copies) | HIGH — plant identification matches |
| Fuchs, De Historia Stirpium | 1542 | HIGH — preparation methods |
| Paracelsus, Archidoxis | 1526-1527 | HIGH — spagyric terminology |
| Brunschwig, Liber de Arte Distillandi | 1500 | HIGH — distillation processes |
| Valentine, Triumphal Chariot of Antimony | c. 1604 | HIGH — alchemical-pharmaceutical |
| Culpeper, The English Physician | 1652 | MODERATE — herbal applications |
| Apicius (medieval pharmacology) | 4th-5th c. | MODERATE — materia preparation |
Complete Manuscript Gallery
All 200 known folios organized by section. Click any image to view full-size. Images sourced from voynich.nu and the Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Yale University.
available
available
available
