The hottest Manuscripts Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Literature Topics

“There is a net beyond the net”

Justin E. H. Smith's Hinternet • 432 implied HN points • 25 Dec 25
💾 History Manuscripts
  1. A small paper fragment attributed to Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa bears the Latin phrase "est rete infra rete," which can be read as "There is a net beyond the net."
  2. Interpreters propose this phrase is the earliest documented allusion to the Hinternet, potentially pushing its origins back centuries earlier than the previously claimed 1915 date.
  3. This discovery forces a revision of earlier historical reconstructions and demands careful analysis to understand what Agrippa might have meant.

The Voynich Manuscript: A Translation

Justin E. H. Smith's Hinternet • 483 implied HN points • 10 Aug 25
📚 Literature Manuscripts
  1. The Voynich Manuscript is a mysterious historic text from the early 1400s that contains drawings and writings in an unknown language. No one has been able to figure out what it says or even identify the plants drawn in it.
  2. A group called The Hinternet is working on translating this manuscript, sharing their progress with the public. Their recent translation includes five new pages that have never been properly understood before.
  3. The translation process is incredibly difficult, and it has taken years to get even a few pages done. The dedication required to work on this manuscript is intense, and those who help are very passionate about their research.

Beginning the Iliad, Once, Twice, and Again

Painful Signs, Or, Joel's Substack • 159 implied HN points • 25 Sep 23
📚 Literature Manuscripts
  1. The initial lines of the Iliad set the stage for the epic story by invoking themes like rage and heroism, preparing the audience for what's to come.
  2. In addition to the well-known 8 lines, there are shorter alternate beginnings for the Iliad found in manuscript traditions, offering different perspectives to set up the audience for the epic story.
  3. The variations in the beginnings of the Iliad highlight the complexity of the oral tradition, showing how different versions can be equally valid in starting the epic poem.

All the (Epic) Rage: Free Tools for Reading Homer's Iliad

Painful Signs, Or, Joel's Substack • 59 implied HN points • 15 Sep 23
📚 Literature Manuscripts
  1. Translations of Homer's work can be creations of their own, offering unique insights and serving different audiences.
  2. Studying and understanding Homeric language and meaning requires repetition, reflection, and discussion with others.
  3. Online tools like the Scaife Viewer and the Homer Multitext Project provide valuable resources for studying Homer's works, offering lexicons, manuscripts, and commentaries.

The Notebook of Leonardo da Vinci, The Codex Arundel

Axial • 14 implied HN points • 22 Oct 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Manuscripts
  1. The Codex Arundel is a collection of Leonardo da Vinci's writings and drawings, showing his wide-ranging interests in math, engineering, and nature. It's written in a special left-handed mirror script, which makes it unique.
  2. Leonardo's work in the codex emphasizes observation and experimentation. He wrote about scientific principles through careful study of the natural world and practical experiments.
  3. The codex is important for understanding both art and science, showing how Leonardo blended these fields. It inspires modern thinkers by highlighting the value of connecting different areas of knowledge.
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