04-07-2015, 09:56 PM
Don't know if your question ever implies this, but generally the most complex historic enigmas are those which are linked to interests (political, economic etc.) of certain powers or elites, to matters of wide social resonance, the explanation of which has dramatic impact on national or international affairs. The complexity is added not only by that the truth is hidden in those cases, but also but that there are actors deeply interested in that the truth never becomes known.
What's the case of 9/11 attacks? Where has the Malaysia Airlines MH370 gone? Who brought down flight MH17? These are just some recent examples.
The king of all historic enigmas, to my opinion, is the question of what is the true story of the "Katyn massacre" - the story that bears evidence of ongoing controversy and falsification through decades (!), suggesting that interests of different powers have been, and continue to be, intricately intertwined in this matter. Not only this matter is the significant factor of international relations, but it is like some curse that is not lifted yet, as the Polish board 101 crash at Smolensk-Severny grimly symbolizes.
Compared to those great enigmas, the Voynich Manuscript is but the child game. The manuscript is existing, it's available, it's accessible. Nobody tries to destroy it or to introduce any falsification. But imagine, for example, if it were destroyed in 1920s, and we were left with nothing but some low-quality photos. How much more difficult would that have made the whole problem!
The Voynich Manuscript is nice and it is a challenge, but by no means it is the most enigmatic thing in history. The better for that, because in deciphering it we need not live in fear of being found drowned in an empty pool (or something like that :-)) due to our coming closer to the truth.
What's the case of 9/11 attacks? Where has the Malaysia Airlines MH370 gone? Who brought down flight MH17? These are just some recent examples.
The king of all historic enigmas, to my opinion, is the question of what is the true story of the "Katyn massacre" - the story that bears evidence of ongoing controversy and falsification through decades (!), suggesting that interests of different powers have been, and continue to be, intricately intertwined in this matter. Not only this matter is the significant factor of international relations, but it is like some curse that is not lifted yet, as the Polish board 101 crash at Smolensk-Severny grimly symbolizes.
Compared to those great enigmas, the Voynich Manuscript is but the child game. The manuscript is existing, it's available, it's accessible. Nobody tries to destroy it or to introduce any falsification. But imagine, for example, if it were destroyed in 1920s, and we were left with nothing but some low-quality photos. How much more difficult would that have made the whole problem!
The Voynich Manuscript is nice and it is a challenge, but by no means it is the most enigmatic thing in history. The better for that, because in deciphering it we need not live in fear of being found drowned in an empty pool (or something like that :-)) due to our coming closer to the truth.