Episode 4: Blackthorn After Dark - The Voynich Manuscript

The Voynich Manuscript: Secrets, Symbols, and the Most Mysterious Book in the World
Episode 1 of Blackthorn After Dark

There are old books... and then there’s the Voynich Manuscript — a centuries-old enigma written in an uncrackable language, filled with strange symbols, impossible plants, and naked women bathing in green liquid. Naturally, we had to talk about it.

Welcome to the very first episode of Blackthorn After Dark, a storytelling series from Renegade - A Blackthorn Podcast where we trade tasting notes for tales of the mysterious, the magical, and the just plain weird. Think of it as your favorite late-night conversation in a secret candlelit speakeasy — wine in hand, curiosity piqued.

So… what is the Voynich Manuscript?

Discovered in 1912 by rare book dealer Wilfrid Voynich, this manuscript has baffled cryptographers, historians, and linguists for over a century. Written in an unknown script that’s never been deciphered, it contains:

• Botanical illustrations of plants that don’t exist

• Zodiac-like diagrams with celestial symbols

• Pages of strange, looping text in a language spoken by no one

• Drawings of women floating in tubes and pools

Some believe it’s a lost alchemical text. Others say it’s an elaborate medieval hoax. Still others are convinced it holds occult knowledge — or even messages from another world.

In this episode, we ask the big questions:

• Who could have written the Voynich Manuscript — and why?

• Could it actually be a coded medical or spiritual text?

• And why are there so many naked ladies in bathtubs?

We also explore the many failed attempts to crack the code, from Renaissance scholars to modern-day AI.

Why We Chose This Story

At Blackthorn, we’re obsessed with mystery, ritual, and the thrill of not having all the answers. The Voynich Manuscript sits at the center of those obsessions — a real artifact that feels like a magical relic from a world just beyond our own. It was the perfect first topic to kick off Blackthorn After Dark.

So pour yourself a glass (we suggest something a little strange and wild), dim the lights, and join us as we dive into one of history’s greatest unsolved puzzles.

🎧 Listen now on your favorite podcast app or watch the full episode on YouTube
📬 Join our free newsletter for more wine-soaked storytelling, hidden content, and strange delights → Join the Vault
🍷 Curious about wine too? Explore the Ritual Box - our wine club subscription for content that blends wine with ritual, rebellion, and myth - and delivers wine directly to your door.