What manuscript?

What manuscript is difficult to say for sure.Basically, this word is associated with the Middle Ages.In general, it is true, many of the ancient manuscripts really came to us from those times.Although the origin of the manuscripts mostly transparent enough, they are still fraught with many wonderful surprises.

Origin

What manuscript, best explains the origin of the term."Manu" - translated from Latin means "hand", "script" - "letter."Thus, the manuscript is a manuscript.

Before the invention of the printing press all the texts were handwritten.The work of scribes is highly appreciated.Precious manuscripts were riveted to the heavy chains of the church altar, handwritten family Bible Store locked up.Information of this character recorded on sheets of paper.There were also recording more expensive materials - papyrus and parchment.These ancient manuscripts are preserved in a much more readable form.For the beauty and clarity they are illustrated with colorful images of people, animals, plants, fictional creatures.Sometimes the image in the text was purely decorative, but mostly illustrate carried meaning and explanatory writing.

manuscripts, prayer books

manuscripts preserved and passed on information that was considered too important and sensitive to oral communications.There are manuscripts, prayer books, and know that the clergy used during prayers.Carrying a book in the church was very uncomfortable because of their weight and cost.Therefore, the church took the manuscripts with the texts of all the necessary prayers and psalms.The manuscripts were sent to the Pope with prayers as a precious gift of monarchs and nobles.Have the manuscript was very prestigious, because it proved the personal favor of the Pope, and therefore of God.

Manuscripts mascots

Although the total dominance of religious dogma and rules, in the Middle Ages enjoyed great popularity of talismans and amulets.It was believed that they would help to protect the body and the soul from evil, to banish the pain and improve health.The fact that such a manuscript mascot, described in medieval chronicles and legends.For example, a secret known manuscript Enchiridie.It italianized reading the Latin name that translates as "Red Dragon."This collection of plots for toothache was presented in the year 800, Charlemagne, Pope Leo III and cost a fortune.

secret manuscripts

not all the manuscripts were written in clear and accessible I language.Manuscripts alchemists, for example, are full of allusions and names confusing features.To write chemical reactions used secret language, inaccessible to the uninitiated.The names of herbs and components recorded on the explosive mixture of local languages ​​and Vulgar Latin.If you add more endemic and illiteracy, it becomes clear that the medieval manuscripts read very easily.Explanation and long-known and newly found manuscripts require a truly encyclopedic knowledge.But even excellent education does not guarantee only correct reading of the document.

Voynich manuscript

In 1912, Poland and antiquarian bookseller W. Voynich presented an amazing manuscript written in an unknown language.Also incomprehensible texts, the document pages containing images of plants and animals unknown in medieval Europe.Scientists still have not deciphered the language in which the manuscript was written.Mysterious text contains grammatical constructions, which were absent in the European languages.Not the European origin of the manuscript confirm the image of flora and fauny.Putem comparison scientists were able to determine that the plants from the manuscript widely distributed in North America, particularly in what is now Mexico, and in Europe at the time they were completely unknown.A language in which the text is written in some places a striking resemblance to the Aztec dialect.

full explanation of what the Voynich manuscript and how he appeared in Poland, has not yet presented.Perhaps this would require more knowledge than we have at the moment.