The Enigma of the Voynich Manuscript: A Comprehensive Overview from the NSA

Originally published by the National Security Agency (NSA)

The Voynich Manuscript, an ancient and mysterious text, has puzzled scholars, cryptanalysts, and enthusiasts for centuries.

Its origins, purpose, and the meaning behind its cryptic content remain unknown, making it one of the most enigmatic manuscripts in history.

This article dives into the intricacies of the manuscript, its history, and the various attempts to decipher it.

Background and Description

The Voynich Manuscript is a codex that dates back to the early 15th century. It contains approximately 240 vellum pages, some of which are foldouts. The manuscript is adorned with colorful illustrations that depict a wide range of subjects, from botanical drawings and astronomical diagrams to human figures and mysterious symbols.

The text is written in an unknown script, which has yet to be deciphered.

This script consists of over 20 unique characters, some resembling Latin letters and numbers, while others are entirely distinct. The manuscript’s content is organized into six sections, each with its own set of illustrations and themes.

These sections include: