#
# Identification:
#
#   * Title: "Cancer"
#   * Page: f72r3 = KE (Rene) = p139 (Stolfi)
#   * Folio: f72
#   * Panels: f72r3, f72r4
#   * Bifolio: bK1 = f71+f72
#   * Quire: K (Rene) = XI (Beinecke)
#
#   This page spans the two outermost recto panels of an eight-panel
#   fold-out. (The outermost panel is about 1/3 the width of a normal
#   one.)
#
#   D'Imperio figure 10, page 88 (center).
#
# Attributes:
#
#   * Language: ? (Currier)
#   * Hand: ? (Currier)
#   * Subsets: Z (Rene), zod (Stolfi)
#   * Subject: zodiac
#   * Colors: ??? (Reeds), green(top_lobster),red(bottom_lobster)
#
# Description:
#
#   (Beware that the KHE scanned image is upside down.)
#
#   Four concentric rings of text (units 程C1}, 程C2}, 程C3}, 程C4},
#   from outside in), bounded by eight faint mechanically drawn
#   circles, roughly centered on the page. Circles 5 and 6 (from the
#   outside) are spaced apart almost twice as much as the other pairs.
#   The outermost text ring runs over the crease on the left side of
#   the panel, and into the diagram of f72r2; for that reason the text
#   is interrupted between 08:00 and 10:00. The middle ring of text
#   has a decorated "notched square" at 09:00, and the innermost text
#   ring has a wider word break at 08:55.
#
#   In the centre there is a pair of lobster-like creatures seen from
#   above. The one at the top is light-colored and facing East, the
#   bottom one is dark and facing West. Below them is a non-Voynichese
#   word, in a heavier hand than the other text in the page.
#
#   The rings of text delimit three circular bands, containing (from
#   inside out) respectively 7, 11, and 12 human figures or "nymphs",
#   i.e. 30 in total. There is a label just clockwise of each figure
#   (text units 程X}, 程Y}, 程Z}, from inside out).
#
#   Some figures are hardly visible due to the poor copy quality. All
#   figures seem to be naked; some have visible breasts, some don't.
#   Their hair is generally short (neck- or shoulder-length); some may
#   be wearing showercap-style hats, and one is wearing a crown. They
#   are standing (radially, with the head outwards), in 3/4 view,
#   between frontal and facing clockwise --- except for the one in the
#   middle band at 10:00, who is facing counterclockwise.
#
#   As far as can be seen, each nymph is holding a star with the
#   left hand; the right hand is generally resting on her back, hip,
#   buttock, waist, belly, or ribs, but in some cases is stretched
#   back and down. Some stars have "tails", but they are not generally
#   used as handles by the nymphs.
#
#   The following table summarizes the nymph and star attributes. The
#   "brst" column says whether the figure has visible female breasts.
#   The "rays" column is the number of rays in each star; a "t" means
#   the star has a tail. The "hand" column gives the position of the
#   right hand; a hour figure measn that the right arm is stretched
#   towards that direction relative to the nymph.
#
#      band    label place brst hand  rays  notes
#      ------- ----- ----- ---- ----- ----  ------------------------------
#      inner   X.1   09:30 yes  ?      7?   
#      inner   X.2   10:30 yes  butt?  9?   
#      inner   X.3   00:00 yes  butt?  7    
#      inner   X.4   01:15 ?    butt   8    right leg forward
#      inner   X.5   03:05 yes  butt?  ? t  crowned
#      inner   X.6   06:00 yes  ribs?  8??  
#      inner   X.7   07:30 yes  butt   7??  
#                                         
#      middle  Y.1   10:00 no   belly  6?t  faces counterclockwise
#      middle  Y.2   11:00 yes  hip    8 t  
#      middle  Y.3   00:00 ?    hip    7         
#      middle  Y.4   01:00 no   waist  7         
#      middle  Y.5   01:45 yes  belly  ? t  
#      middle  Y.6   02:30 ?    ?      7    
#      middle  Y.7   03:15 yes  hip?   ? ?  
#      middle  Y.8   05:00 yes  butt   8?t  
#      middle  Y.9   06:30 yes  hip?   ? ?  
#      middle  Y.10  08:00 yes  hip    8 t  
#      middle  Y.11  08:45 yes  07:00  ? ?  
#                                    
#      outer   Z.1   10:00 ?    hip    7 t  
#      outer   Z.2   10:30 yes  ?      7 t  shower cap
#      outer   Z.3   11:00 no   belly  9 t  right hand holding ring?
#      outer   Z.4   00:00 no   ?      8?        
#      outer   Z.5   00:45 no   hip    8         
#      outer   Z.6   01:30 ?    ?      7 t  
#      outer   Z.7   02:15 yes  hip    8 t  
#      outer   Z.8   03:45 yes  07:30  ? ?  
#      outer   Z.9   05:00 yes  07:30  7?t  dressed? hat?
#      outer   Z.10  06:15 yes  hip?   7?t  
#      outer   Z.11  07:00 yes  ?      ?    
#      outer   Z.12  08:00 ?    ?      ? ?  
#
#   Rene [07 Apr 1999] observes that this folio is all curled up.
#   Also that the nymph's crown is uncolored.
#
# Comments:
#
#   The two lobsters are probably a symbol for Cancer.
#   Cancer is July 7 to August 11 (?).
#
#   Note the switch from two bands of nymphs + overflow (as in f72r2)
#   to three bands of figures.
#
#   The decorated square suggests the text rings are to be read 
#   starting at 09:00 or so.
#
# References:
#
#
# Last edited on 1999-04-21 08:59:12 by stolfi