Volvelles

Section 1

Originating as a slide chart with overlapping rotatable paper or parchment circles that are connected in the center and contained within a manuscript or codex, the volvelle was used between the 13th and 16th centuries to predict or record external events based on the alignment of written or drawn symbols or words.

This tool had the unique ability to connect external events to the book, integrating the instrument and text, thus extending its relevant authority contained within the written word in a practical way to obtain real world information.