Voynich (12): Analysis of the Names for the Nymphs

in the Voynich Manuscript

Fig. 1 Analysis of the Names for the Nymphs

Joannes Richter

Abstract
The analysis of the names for the water-nymphs is a part of the analysis of the labels. In contrast to
interpretation of the labels for the baptizing ceremony in the ponds 1 and the rainbows2 the
interpretation of the labels at the nymphs may be unreliable.
Some of the nymphs are decorated with a crown, a garland, a spinning top / dagger or a ring in one
of the hands. Each of these decorations may symbolize a more or less important topic, which
probably might be explained in the EVA-text.
The naming convention for the nymphs seems to be based on a common root oka, oko, and ota for
“water”, which had to be extended with various 1- or 2-letter extensions. The composer of these
names seemed to have take care that no double names were given.

1 The Text to the Ponds at Page f84v of the Voynich Manuscript

2 Analysis of the Rainbows in the Voynich Manuscript
Labels at nymphs along top margin of page f80r
The common roots for “water” (based on “aqua”) are oka, oko, and ota3.
aqua (n.) is "water," late 14c., from Latin aqua "water; the sea; rain," from PIE root
*akwa- "water." It is the hypothetical source of/evidence for its existence is provided
by: Sanskrit ap "water;" Hittite akwanzi "they drink;" Latin aqua "water, the sea, rain;"
Lithuanian upė "a river;" Old English ea "river," Gothic ahua "river, waters." But
Boutkan (2005) writes that only the Germanic and Latin words are sure, Old Irish ab is
perhaps related, and "the rest of the evidence in Pokorny (1959) is uncertain."4

The roots olch and olk may be correlating in olchdy= and olky=. If the spinning top may be
interpreted as a dagger (German: dolch) the name “olky” may represent a hidden dagger under the
red and white robe of the nymph.
In total 6 names of the 9 labeled nymphs may be related to “water”. Two nymphs may represent
queen #1 and #2. Two names may be labeled with a word olch resp. olk.
The label otalshedy may be a common title (such as “water management” or “the Waterboard”)
for all 9 names and functions, which are included in the overview. The syllable “ship” in the word
“leadership” may be related with “shedy”.
Identifier EVA-code Description Root English Extension
<f80r.X.1;H> yoraly= Long-haired nymph (y)ora ? ly
<f80r.X.2;H> olchdy= Nymph with a spinning top (“dolch” / olch dagger dy
dagger ?) and with a raised left hand
<f80r.X.3;H> okaly= Nymph with a raised right hand oka Water (1) ly
<f80r.X.4;H> okolo= Long-haired Queen #1 (wearing a oko Water (2) lo
crown with a cross)
<f80r.X.5;H> okory= Nymph with 2 arms backwards oko Water (3) ry
<f80r.X.6;H> opor= Long-haired Queen #2 (with a red opo Upper r
crown) on a barrel with blue water class ?
<f80r.X.7;H> olky= Long-haired Nymph, olk (hidden) y
wearing a red & white striped robe dagger ?
<f80r.X.8;H> otalshedy= Maybe a title “Waterboard” ota Water (4) shedy5
<f80r.X.9;H> okar= Long-haired nymph oka Water (5) r
<f80r.X.10;H> otan= Long-haired Nymph with a spinning ota Water (6) n
top (?), guiding a (younger ?,
unlabeled) person
Table 1 Unit: "Labels on nymphs along top margin", transcripted by Takeshi Takahashi

3 The Search for Water- and Air-Words in the Voynich-Manuscript, *wed- (1) - It is the hypothetical source
of/evidence for its existence is provided by: Hittite watar, Sanskrit udrah, Greek hydor, Old Church Slavonic and
Russian voda, Lithuanian vanduo, Old Prussian wundan, Gaelic uisge "water;" Latin unda "wave;" Old English
wæter, Old High German wazzar, Gothic wato "water."
4 water | Etymology, origin and meaning of water by etymonline
5 The surname Shedy is of Anglo-Saxon origin. It is derived from the Old English word "scydd," meaning "hovel,
shed," and thus refers to a "dweller at the hovel." (source: Shedy Name Meaning, Family History, Family Crest &
Coats of Arms)
The symbolism in the Queens' attributes
There is no evidence that the cross on page f79v may be the same or a similar cross in the queen
(okolo)'s crown on page f80r.

Fig. 2 Nymph with a cross Fig. 3 Nymph with a cross

(Voynich page f79v) (Voynich page f80r)

The names of both queens (okolo respectively opor) on page f80r may be compared with both
queens (olko. ky respectively sokoly) on page f82r.
The following long-haired queens of f82r are named at the left side “olko. ky” and at the right side
“sokoly”. The blond- or reddish-haired queen is found at the left side. The blue-haired queen at the
right side may carry an orb (or a tool) in her right hand.

Fig. 4 Two queens in the sketch of page f82r (at the left: “olko. ky=” with their crown
and at the right side “sokoly=” with a crown and an orb or a ring).
The Queen “opor”
Compared with the queens who are decorated with common “garlands” we may identify the most
decorated queen “opor” with a red-colored crown. This queen may be found at an elevated position
on a blue-colored barrel in the center of the Waterboard in f80r. The name “opor” (“upper” ?)
deviates from the common “water”-based labels with the roots oka, oko, and ota.
In the Greek mythology the nymph “Maia” was the most prominent nymph.
Maia (/ˈmeɪ.ə/; Ancient Greek: Μαῖα; also spelled Maie, Μαίη; Latin: Maia),[1] in
ancient Greek religion and mythology, is one of the Pleiades and the mother of Hermes,
one of the major Greek gods, by Zeus, the king of Olympus.[2]

In ancient Roman religion and myth, Maia embodied the concept of growth,[11] as her
name was thought to be related to the comparative adjective maius, maior "larger,
greater". Originally, she may have been a homonym independent of the Greek Maia,
whose myths she absorbed through the Hellenization of Latin literature and culture.[12]
6

Fig. 5 Nymph “opor“ with a red-colored crown

(Voynich page f80r )

6 Source : Maia
Opis / Opus
The name of the most prominent queen “Opor” may also be related to the Roman / Sabine goddess
Opis or Opus (of a Sabine origin):
In ancient Roman religion, Ops or Opis (Latin: "Plenty") was a fertility deity and earth
goddess of Sabine origin. Her equivalent in Greek mythology was Rhea.

According to Roman tradition, the cult of Opis was instituted by Titus Tatius, one of the
Sabine kings of Rome.[4] Opis soon became the matron of riches, abundance, and
prosperity. Opis had a famous temple in the Capitolium. Originally, a festival took place
in Opis' honor on August 10. Additionally, on December 19[1] (some say December 9),
the Opalia was celebrated. On August 25, the Opiconsivia was held. Opiconsivia was
another name used for Opis, indicating when the earth was sown.7

This may lead to the translation of “opor“ to Opis (Latin: "Plenty", or in English: “opulence”).
"wealth, riches, affluence," c. 1500, from French opulence (16c.), from Latin opulentia
"riches, wealth," from opulentus "wealthy," a dissimilation of *op-en-ent-, which is
related to ops "wealth, power, ability, resources," and to opus "work, labor, exertion"
(from PIE root *op- "to work, produce in abundance"). 8

The other “queens” may be interpreted as standard “royals”, who were ruled by the “opor“.

7 Source: Ops
8 opulence | Etymology, origin and meaning of opulence by etymonline
Summary
The analysis of the names for the water-nymphs is a part of the analysis of the labels. In contrast to
interpretation of the labels for the baptizing ceremony in the ponds 9 and the rainbows10 the
interpretation of the labels at the nymphs may be unreliable.
Some of the nymphs are decorated with a crown, a garland, a spinning top / dagger or a ring in one
of the hands. Each of these decorations may symbolize a more or less important topic, which
probably might be explained in the EVA-text.
The naming convention for the nymphs seems to be based on a common root oka, oko, and ota for
“water”, which had to be extended with various 1- or 2-letter extensions. The composer of these
names seemed to have take care that no double names were given.

9 The Text to the Ponds at Page f84v of the Voynich Manuscript

10 Analysis of the Rainbows in the Voynich Manuscript
Contents
Abstract.................................................................................................................................................1
Labels at nymphs along top margin of page f80r.................................................................................2
The symbolism in the Queens' attributes..............................................................................................3
The Queen “opor”.................................................................................................................................4
Opis / Opus......................................................................................................................................5
Summary...............................................................................................................................................6
Appendix: Previous study-essays in the Voynich-Project....................................................................8
Appendix: Previous study-essays in the Voynich-Project
The following study-essays have been documented as stages in the Voynich-Project:
1. The Roots of the Voynich-Manuscript
2. The Search for Water- and Air-Words in the Voynich-Manuscript
3. The Relations between the Hunter Orion, the Pleiades and Baskets in the Voynich
Manuscript
4. The (Green) Aachtopf and the (Blue) Blautopf as Karst-Springs in the Voynich Manuscript
5. The Life-Cycle in Page f79v of the Voynich Manuscript
6. The Origin of the Yellow, Blue and Green Waters
7. The Role of the Queens in the Voynich Manuscript
8. The Misinterpretation and Reinterpretion of the Voynich Manuscript
9. The Background of the Voynich-Manuscript
10. The Text to the Ponds at Page f84v of the Voynich Manuscript
11. Analysis of the Rainbows in the Voynich Manuscript
12. Analysis of the Names for the Nymphs