Book of Sophia
From Tarotpedia
[edit] The Book of Sophia: The Pythagorean Letter-Number Origins of the Tarot Trumps
[edit] Author
Todd O'Brien
[edit] Publication details
ISBN To be added
[edit] Date of Publication
2008 (Online Chapter: August 8, 2008)
[edit] Publisher
Tarocchi Books
[edit] PART 1
“What else do they mean by the Juggler and the Fool, than swindler and trickster? What other meanings have the Papess, the Chariot, the Traitor, the Wheel, the Hunchback, Strength, the Star, the Sun, the Moon, Death and Hell, and all the rest of this motley crew?” Flavio Alberti Lollio
During the mid-fifteenth century AD, the first Tarot decks began to appear in the royal courts of Renaissance Italy. By definition, a Tarot deck is a traditional set of playing cards to which a fifth suit, known as the Trumps, has been added. The Trumps consist of twenty-two cards which depict symbolic images. Traditionally, they are numbered from zero to twenty-one and they are usually connected to the letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The numbering sequence of the Trumps was first established with a French deck created by Catalin Geoffry in 1556 AD. The connection between the Trumps and the Hebrew alphabet originated with Eliphas Levi in the nineteenth century. However, both the traditional numbering sequence and their connection to the Hebrew alphabet appear to have been established after the original symbolic correspondences of the Trumps were lost. In 1550 AD, the Italian poet Flavio Alberti Lollio wrote that the symbolic images of the Trumps were no longer understood. Considering that he hailed from Ferrara, Italy, one of the earliest centers of the Tarot, it is reasonable to conclude that the true meanings of the Trumps had been obscured within the span of one hundred years.
The Latin alphabet is the most widely used writing system in the world. Originating in Italy, the Latin letters gradually spread around the Mediterranean Sea with the expansion of the Roman Empire. During the Middle Ages, the Latin alphabet continued to permeate the fabric of Europe through the triumph of the Roman Catholic Church. At first, the Latin alphabet was primarily used for writing the Romance languages, such as Italian, French, Spanish, and Portuguese. Then it was adapted for the Germanic, Celtic, and Baltic languages. Finally, the Latin alphabet became the standard writing system for most Indo-European languages. Although there are various systems of symbolic correspondences which were developed for the Hebrew letters, Greek letters, Nordic runes, and Celtic oghams, a similar system was never created for the Latin alphabet. According to the Swedish scholar Sigurd Agrell, however, the twenty-two Tarot Trumps were originally linked with the Latin letters. He proposed that each Trump had a Latin name and the initial letter of each name corresponded to a letter of the Latin alphabet. Although the Latin alphabet has twenty-three letters, there are no Latin words which begin with the letter ‘Y’ as it was used only for the transliteration of Greek words. By removing the letter ‘Y’, the Latin alphabet is reduced to twenty-two letters, precisely corresponding to the number of Trumps. Below are the twenty-two Latin names of the Trumps alongside their corresponding modern names.
LATIN NAMES OF TRUMPS WITH CORRESPONDING MODERN NAMES
1. Apis = Fool
2. Bacatus-Typhon = Magician
3. Caeles-Isis = High Priestess
4. Diana = Empress
5. Eon = Emperor
6. Flamen = High Priest
7. Gaudium = Lovers
8. Hamaxa = Chariot
9. Justitia = Justice
10. Kronos = Hermit
11. Libera = Wheel of Fortune
12. Magnitudo = Strength
13. Noxa = Hanged Man
14. Orcus = Death
15. Pluvia = Temperance
16. Quirinus = Devil
17. Ruina = Tower
18. Stellae = Star
19. Trina = Moon
20. Victor-Unus = Sun
21. Xiphias = Judgment
22. Zodiacus = Universe
The oldest and most complete Tarot deck is the Visconti-Sforza set which was created around 1450 AD. As it is the earliest deck, it follows that it has the most accurate symbolism. Unlike a majority of other decks, the Trumps in the Visconti-Sforza set are both unnumbered and unnamed. In spite of this, the original numbering sequence can be determined by the unique imagery contained upon them. For example, the Justice card depicts a knight riding upon a horse in the background. This appears to be a reference to the Knights Templar as the number nine was sacred to their Order which originally consisted of exactly nine knights for the first nine years. In addition, the Strength card depicts Heracles vanquishing the Nemean Lion, the first of his Twelve Labors. Furthermore, the Moon is directly associated with the Metonic cycle which consists of exactly nineteen years. Consequently, this suggests that the Trumps were originally numbered one through twenty-two. Appropriately, the word ‘Trump’ is derived from ‘triumph’ which means “to succeed”, “to be successful”, and “succession”. Likewise, the Trumps represent the succession of numbers: 1, 2, 3, etcetera. Each number “triumphs” over the preceding number.
[edit] PART 2
“Symbolism is the language of the Mysteries; in fact it is the language not only of Mysticism and Philosophy but of all Nature, for ever law and power active in universal procedure is manifested to the limited sense perceptions of man through the medium of symbol. Every form existing in the diversified sphere of being is symbolic of the divine activity by which it is produced.” Manly P. Hall
Since the sixth century BC, the Greeks utilized the letters of the alphabet to represent numbers. They developed three different types of letter-number systems: the Herodianic, the Milesian, and the ordinal. The simplest of these three systems is the ordinal. In this letter-number system, the twenty-four Greek letters represent the numbers one through twenty-four, similar to the Tarot Trumps. In addition, the Greek alphabet has a highly developed system of symbolic correspondences, several of which are derived from the Pythagorean number symbolism associated with their ordinal values. According to the Romans, the divinatory goddess Carmenta fashioned the Latin letters from the Greek letters. Likewise, modern scholars maintain that the Latin alphabet was derived from the Greek alphabet through the Etruscans. Consequently, it follows that the symbolic correspondences of the Greek letters were adopted for the Trumps. Below are the Tarot Trumps alongside the symbolic meanings of the Greek letters.
LATIN TRUMPS WITH GREEK SYMBOLIC CORRESPONDENCES
1. Apis (Fool) = Bull (Alpha)
2. Bacatus-Typhon (Magician) = Adversary/Duality (Beta)
3. Caeles-Isis (High Priestess) = Divine (Gamma)
4. Diana (Empress) = Four Elements (Delta)
5. Eon (Emperor) = Æther/Quintessence (Epsilon)
6. Flamen (High Priest) = Sacrifice (Zeta)
7. Gaudium (Lovers) = Joy/Love (Eta)
8. Hamaxa (Chariot) = Crystal Heaven/Eighth Sphere (Theta)
9. Justitia (Justice) = Destiny/Ananke (Iota)
10. Kronos (Hermit) = Time/Kronos (Kappa)
11. Libera (Wheel of Fortune) = Plant Growth (Lambda)
12. Magnitudo (Strength) = Trees (Mu)
13. Noxa (Hanged Man) = Moon/Hekate (Nu)
14. Orcus (Death) = Stars (Xi)
15. Pluvia (Temperance) = Sun (Omicron)
16. Quirinus (Devil) = Solar Halo (Pi)
17. Ruina (Tower) = Feminine/Creative (Rho)
18. Stellae (Star) = Psychopomp (Sigma)
19. Trina (Moon) = Human Being (Tau)
20. Victor-Unus (Sun) = Water/Flow (Ypsilon)
21. Xiphias (Judgment) = Phallus (Phi)
22. Zodiacus (Universe) = Cosmos (Chi)
23. *** = Heavenly Light (Psi)
24. *** = Abundance (Omega)
It appears that the creators of the Tarot switched exactly five pairs of the symbolic meanings for the Trumps. For example, Moon/Hekate is more equivalent with Trina (Moon) and conversely, Human Being is the best match for Noxa (Hanged Man). Therefore, Moon/Hekate was switched with Human Being. In addition, Sun was exchanged with Water/Flow, Stars were switched with Psychopomp, Solar Halo was exchanged with Phallus, and Sacrifice was switched with Heavenly Light. Finally, the symbolic correspondences Sacrifice (Psi) and Abundance (Omega) were unused since they specifically corresponded to a twenty-four letter alphabet.
[edit] PART 3
“The Tarot speaks in the language of symbols, the language of the unconscious, and when approached in the right manner it may open doors into the hidden reaches of the Soul.” Alfred Douglas
Pythagoras was renowned as brilliant mathematician who founded the Greek philosophical tradition as well as as an enlightened mystic who composed poetry under the name Orpheus. In a similar fashion, the Tarot Trumps represent the union of number and letter. According to the Pythagoreans, the only truly universal language was mathematics. For this reason, they declared that Number was Divine. In addition, all the gods and goddesses of various mythologies were understood by the Pythagoreans as symbols which reflected the essences and qualities of different numerals. Building upon the theory proposed by Agrell, it appears that the Tarot Trumps represent a type of “Latin hieroglyphs” based upon the Pythagorean letter-number symbolism of the Latin alphabet. Accordingly, each Tarot Trump symbolizes a divinity which corresponds to three different elements. The first element is the initial letter of the Latin name of each Trump, including the visual shape of letter. The second element is the numeric value of the Latin letter, derived from the ordinal letter-number system. The third element is the symbolic meaning of the Latin letter, derived from its Greek counterpart. Utilizing these three elements in conjunction with the images of the Visconti-Sforza Tarot, the original symbolism of the Trumps is finally revealed! Below are the Latin names of the Trumps each with their symbolic correspondences.
LATIN TRUMPS WITH SYMBOLIC CORRESPONDENCES
1. Apis (Fool) = Bull
2. Bacatus-Typhon (Magician) = Adversary/Duality
3. Caeles-Isis (High Priestess) = Divine
4. Diana (Empress) = Four Elements
5. Eon (Emperor) = Æther/Quintessence
6. Flamen (High Priest) = Heavenly Light
7. Gaudium (Lovers) = Joy/Love
8. Hamaxa (Chariot) = Crystal Heaven/Eighth Sphere
9. Justitia (Justice) = Destiny/Ananke
10. Kronos (Hermit) = Time/Kronos
11. Libera (Wheel of Fortune) = Plant Growth
12. Magnitudo (Strength) = Trees
13. Noxa (Hanged Man) = Human Being
14. Orcus (Death) = Psychopomp
15. Pluvia (Temperance) = Water/Flow
16. Quirinus (Devil) = Phallus
17. Ruina (Tower) = Feminine/Creative (Rho)
18. Stellae (Star) = Stars
19. Trina (Moon) = Moon/Hekate
20. Victor-Unus (Sun) = Sun
21. Xiphias (Judgment) = Solar Halo
22. Zodiacus (Universe) = Cosmos
In the sixth century BC, Pythagoras established a philosophical academy in Kroton, Italy. Nearly two thousand years later, the Renaissance first blossomed in northern Italy after the rediscovery of philosophical texts and ancient wisdom from the Classical World. In addition, it was during this exact time and place, Renaissance Italy, that the first Tarot decks emerged. Consequently, it makes perfect sense that if the Trumps would be connected with the Latin alphabet. Interestingly, prior to establishing an academy in Italy, Pythagoras was initiated in Crete by the priests of one of the Dactyls, deities credited with introducing the arts of metallurgy to humankind, as well as mathematics and letters. Furthermore, Pythagoras is credited with originating the term ‘philosopher’ which means “lover of wisdom”. As the Tarot is centered around the wisdom of Pythagorean letter-number symbolism, it is truly a “Book of Sophia”...
[edit] Trump A
1. APIS ~ The first Trump corresponds to the letter ‘A’, the number one, and the symbolic meaning of ‘bull’. Originally, the letter ‘A’ formed the head of a bull as the modern letter is an upside-down version of the original Phoenician letter. During the Bronze Age, the bull was the most important resource of the agricultural communities which fourished throughout the Fertile Crescent and around the Mediterranean Sea. Consequently, the Bull was placed in the initial position in the original zodiac invented by the Babylonian magi. In other words, Taurus was the first “letter” in the heavenly alphabet. In ancient Egypt, Apis was the most important bull god and he represented the physical manifestation of Osiris. He was the embodiment of strength, virility, and procreative energy. Apis was also a title of Osiris, the fertility god who was known as the ‘Bull of the Underworld’. Around the fifteenth century BC, the Egyptian priests of Memphis united the sacrificial bull god Apis with the resurrected god Osiris into one deity known as Asar-Hapi who was regularly depicted with the head of a bull. During the Hellenistic period, he became the Supreme God of Alexandria known by the Greek form of his name: Serapis. As with Osiris, Serapis was also known by the title Apis. As the ultimate One God, Serapis symbolized the unifying principle of the number one. Accordingly, he assimilated several other gods such as Zeus, Ammon, Dionysus, Attis, Hades, Mithras, and Æsclepius. Also, the title ‘Pantheus’ was added to his name, thus identifying him as “Serapis the All-God.” In Greek artwork, he was usually depicted in human form with a ruddy complexion. In addition, Serapis was sometimes portrayed alongside Cerberus, the three-headed hound of hell. As an agricultural deity, he was frequently shown with sheaves of grain emerging from a basket-shaped headdress. Also, Serapis was sometimes portrayed with a seven-rayed crown which symbolized spiritual illumination. In the Visconti-Sforza image, these two symbols are merged and Serapis is depicted with seven grain sheaves rising from the top of his head. In addition, he holds a nilometer, an instrument used to measure the level of the flooding Nile. In the Visconti-Sforza image, Serapis is depicted wearing the cloak of a beggar. This corresponds to the threadbare cloak which members of the ascetic branch of Pythagoreans wore as their sole garment.
[edit] Trump B
2. BACATVS-TYPHON ~ The second Trump corresponds to the letter ‘B’, the number two, and the symbolic meaning of ‘duality’ and ‘adversary’. The Latin word bacatus means ‘strewn with pearls’ or ‘pearl’. The letter ‘B’ symbolizes both division and duality as it is divided into two parts, the lower half forming a reflection or shadow of the upper half. Similarly, the number two symbolizes twins and polarity. This corresponds to the Egyptian god Set, the brother of Osiris who represented his “shadow” or dark twin. Osiris and Set symbolized the cyclic fluctuation between light and darkness, order and chaos, moisture and dryness, spirit and matter. In addition, Set dismembered the corpse of Osiris and scattered the pieces across the land of Egypt. This symbolized the division of unity and the diffusion of the divine spirit throughout the material realm. According to the Egyptians, the physical realm was a reflection of the spiritual realm. Therefore, Osiris was associated with the spiritual realm and Set was associated with the physical realm, making him the Lord of Illusion. Consequently, he was depicted as a Magician in the Visconti-Sforza image. Also, he is depicted wearing a red hat and garb as Set was commonly known as the ‘Red One’ due to his adversarial nature. Set was identified with the Greek dragon Typhon. Mythically speaking, dragons were frequently regarded as the guardians of magic pearls.
[edit] Trump C
3. CAELES-ISIS ~ The third Trump corresponds to the letter ‘C’, the number three, and the symbolic meaning of ‘divine’. The Latin word caeles means ‘heavenly’ or ‘divine’. The letter ‘C’ forms the shape of a waning crescent, the third visible phase of the moon. Since ancient times, the number three has been regarded as sacred as the heavenly moon has three visible phases: waxing, full, and waning. Similarly, Isis was the supreme triple goddess of Egypt. She was the Queen of Heaven, Earth, and Underworld. In addition, she formed a trinity with her husband Osiris and their son Horus. In the Visconti-Sforza image, Isis wears the triple crown and she holds a book as she was credited with the invention of hieroglyphic and demotic writing along with Thoth. When Osiris was murdered, she reassembled the pieces of his body and gave them to Anubis to wrap in mummy bandages. With her divine magic she resurrected him and conceived their son Horus. The murder of Osiris by Set and his resurrection by Isis perfectly embodied the Ancient Poetic Theme: the struggle between the God of the Waxing Year and the God of the Waning Year for the love of the Threefold Goddess. Isis was identified with the Greek goddess Demeter. Her name means ‘Grain Mother’ and she originally formed a trinity with Kore the Virgin and Persephone the Crone. This triad of goddesses symbolized the green ear of corn, the ripe ear of corn, and the harvested ear of corn. Over time, Kore and Persephone were merged into one goddess. According to the Greeks, Demeter and Kore founded the Eleusinian Mysteries which celebrated the cycles of nature which annually restored fertility to the earth. Similarly, the Mysteris of Isis and Osiris celebrated the yearly flooding of the Nile which brought fertility to the land.
[edit] Trump D
4. DIANA ~ The fourth Trump corresponds to the letter ‘D’, the number four, and the symbolic meaning of ‘four elements’. The letter ‘D’ forms the shape of a quarter moon. Similar to the number three, the number four was also a lunar number. It corresponded to the four lunar phases when the ‘invisible’ new moon was added to the three visible phases. According to Plutarch, the moon governed the four elemental bodies: fire, air, water, and earth. In addition, the fourth letter of the Greek alphabet was delta which formed a triangle, the exact shape used for each of the symbols of the four elements. Diana was known as the Queen of Heaven and she governed the cycles of life, fertility, time, and nature. All generation and destruction are the result of her perpetual motion and continual rearrangement of the four elementary bodies. Her name was derived from ‘Diviana’ which means “Shining One”. Diana was the Lunar Creatress who formed the universe and all living creatures. She was the Lunar Destroyer whose arrows caused sudden death, plague, and pestilence. Diana was identified with Artemis of Ephesus, the lunar goddess who nourished all life with her many breasts. In addition, Artemis was known as the Maiden of the Silver Bow, a weapon which corresponds to the shape of the letter ‘D’. The Visconti-Sforza image depicted her holding a shield which signified her role as a protectress of animals.
[edit] Trump E
5. EON ~ The fifth Trump corresponds to the letter ‘E’, the number five, and the symbolic meaning of ‘æther’ or ‘quintessence’. Just as the number four corresponded to the elements of earth, water, air, and fire, the number five symbolized the quintessence (‘fifth element’), otherwise known as æther, which was symbolized by a five-pointed star. The Greek philosophers maintained that there was a spiritual element hidden within the four material elements. While the four elements were transitional and impermanent, the quintessence was everlasting and eternal. According to the Greek philosophers, the fifth element was the spirit of the universe and the spark of the Divine within all things. In addition, they maintained that the soul was formed of this ethereal substance which resided within the physical body and animated it. Furthermore, they declared that the sun and the stars were also composed of pure quintessence. When the letter ‘E’ is rotated upwards, it forms the shape of the ancient symbol for fire. As it is the fifth letter of the alphabet, it corresponds to the divine fire, otherwise known as the quintessence. Appropriately, it was inscribed upon the shrine at Delphi, sacred to the solar god Apollo. The name Eon is another form of Æon, the Alexandrian god of Time. He was equated with Zurvan Arakana, the Mithraic deity of Infinite Time and the personification of quintessence. His chariot was pulled by four horses: Fire, Air, Water, and Earth. Zurvan Akarana was an androgynous deity, possessing both male and female characteristics. In the Visconti-Sforza image, this is signified by the scepter and orb.
[edit] Trump F
6. FLAMEN ~ The sixth Trump corresponds to the letter ‘F’, the number six, and has the symbolic meaning of ‘heavenly light’ and ‘lightning’. The Latin word flamen means ‘priest’. The letter ‘F’ forms the shape of a downward-pointing phallus as the Heavenly Father descended upon Mother Earth to fertilize her womb. In addition, the number six corresponds to the sixth heaven which is governed by Zeus, the supreme god of the Greek pantheon. In addition, he was associated with wind, storms, lightning, thunder, and fertility. Geometrically speaking, the number six corresponds to a six-rayed star consisting of an downward-pointing triangle interlocked with an upward-pointing triangle. This signified the sacred marriage between heaven and earth as well as the king and queen. Similarly, in the Eleusinian Mysteries, the high priest coupled with the high priestess which corresponded to the sacred marriage between the Zeus and Demeter. What is more, the lightning bolts of Zeus signified the heavens impregnating the earth. Furthermore, another symbol for the lightning bolt was a double-ended trident, otherwise known as a vajra. Zeus was identified with the Egyptian god Ammon, the father of deities and humankind. He was known as the ‘Hidden One’ who personified the unseen creative energy of the universe which permeated all things, both animate and inanimate. Consequently, he was depicted with blue skin and wearing the lofty double-plumed crown.
[edit] Trump G
7. GAVDIVM ~ The seventh Trump corresponds to the letter ‘G’, the number seven, and the symbolic meaning of ‘joy’ and ‘love’. The Latin word gaudium means ‘joy’. The letter ‘G’ symbolized the union of the male and female, a line entering into a circle. The number seven corresponds to the spheres of heaven. According to the Orphics, black-winged Night laid a silver egg from which emerged Phanes, another form of Eros, as none of the other divinities could have been conceived prior to Love, the principle which brings all things together. Afterwards, he set the heavens in motion which produced the harmonious Music of the Spheres. According to the Greeks, Eros fell in love with the mortal Psyche, the personification of the soul. Eros visited her every night, but he concealed his divinity from her. One night, Psyche attempted to view him while he slept. She accidentally scalded him with a drop of lamp oil and he fled from her. While searching in vain for him, she accidentally fell asleep in the Underworld. Finally, the Soul was awakened by the kiss of Love and the couple were married in Heaven. In the Visconti-Sforza image, Eros is depicted throwing his golden-tipped arrows at a couple while blindfolded which symbolizes that true love is blind. He was identified with the Roman god Amor.
[edit] Trump H
8. HAMAXA ~ The eighth Trump corresponds to the letter ‘H’, the number eight, and the symbolic meaning of ‘crystal sphere’. The Latin word hamaxa means ‘chariot’ or ‘wagon’. The letter ‘H’ forms the shape of a fence or barrier. The number eight corresponds to the eighth heaven which was considered to be a crystal sphere or heavenly veil that served as a barrier between the spiritual realm and the physical realm. Accordingly, the stars were the points of divine light which shined through the celestial veil. This symbolized Athena, the virgin goddess who personified the divine wisdom hidden behind the starry vault. In addition, she was the goddess of wisdom who wove the Veil of the Universe. Athena was also responsible for taming the horse and designing the chariot which frequently featured a blue star-strewn canopy and supported by four columns, a perfect representation of the veil of heaven. According to the Greeks, her mother Metis was swallowed by Zeus because he feared a prophesy that she would give birth to a son more powerful than himself. When Athena was born, she emerged from the head of Zeus fully grown equipped with a helmet, spear, and shield. As a warrior goddess, she never suffered a single defeat on the battlefield. The Visconti-Sforza image correctly depicts a female driver of the horse-drawn chariot. Athena was equated with Sophia, the goddess of Wisdom.
[edit] Trump I
9. IVSTITIA ~ The ninth Trump corresponds to the letter ‘I’, the number nine, and the symbolic meaning of ‘fate’ and ‘destiny’. The Latin word justitia means ‘justice’. The letter ‘I’ forms the shape of an axis or spindle which was associated with Ananke, the Greek goddess of fate and order. In a decimal numeral system, the number nine is the highest single digit. For this reason, it was considered to be the greatest of all numbers. In addition, the number nine represented the divine three magnified three times. When depicted by three rows each consisting of three dots, the central dot symbolizes the axis around which the other eight dots revolve. In a similar fashion, Ananke was known as the Spindle of Necessity and she embodied the central axis upon which the spheres of heaven revolved. As she guided the universe, Ananke was considered to be the most powerful of all the deities. In addition, she possessed the Scales of Balance which determined justice and truth. Ananke was also the virgin mother of the Three Fates: Clotho the spinner, Lachesis the measurer, and Atropos the cutter. They controlled the birth, life, and death of all deities and mortals. Furthermore, Ananke was a goddess of prophecy and she established the Oracle of Delphi. In the Visconti-Sforza image, there is a knight riding a horse in the background. This is a reference to the Knights Templar as the number nine was sacred to their Order. Ananke was identified with the Egyptian goddess Maat who judged the souls of the deceased in the Hall of Judgment.
[edit] Trump K
10. KRONOS ~ The tenth Trump corresponds to the letter ‘K’, the number ten, and the symbolic meaning of ‘time’. Uniquely, the tenth Trump is centered around the symbolic correspondences between letters, numbers, and glyphs. The letter ‘K’ closely resembles the glyph for Kronos, the god of Time. In Roman numerals, the number ten is represented by the letter ‘X’ which corresponds to the initial letter of Chronos, the Orphic version of Kronos. According to the Pythagoreans, the number ten was the most sacred of all the numerals. It was a triangular number which corresponded to the Past, Present, and Future, the three aspects of Time. Also, the number 10 was formed with a straight line (1) and the circle (0) as Time is both linear and cyclic. Kronos was the god of time and was associated with agriculture and harvests. According to the Greeks, Kronos swallowed his offspring in fear of a prophesy that one of his sons would overthrow him. This signified that all things are consumed by Time. In addition, Kronos was the ruler of the Golden Age when humankind lived like deities. Through Time, everything was completed, all pains were healed, and enlightenment was attained. He was identified with the Roman god Saturn. The seven-day festival of Saturnalia was held during the week of the winter solstice which marked the completion of the year. During this midwinter celebration, gifts were exchanged and social conventions were temporarily abolished in honor of the Golden Age.
[edit] Trump L
11. LIBERA ~ The eleventh Trump corresponds to the letter ‘L’, the number eleven, and the symbolic meaning of ‘plant growth’. The letter ‘L’ was formed from the Greek letter lambda which was utilized as a geometric tool for illustrating the principles of the progression. Later, it became a symbol for the Golden Ratio. Among other things, the Golden Ratio demonstrated the mathematical progression of the growth rate of plants. This corresponded to Libera, the Roman goddess of vegetation. She was responsible for turning the Wheel of the Year during her seasonal journey to the Underworld. Upon her return, the plants blossomed with new life and the earth became fertile again. In Greece, she was identified with Kore, the daughter of Demeter. Together they established the Eleusinian Mysteries where sacred rites were performed for over two thousand years. More than any other numeral, eleven is the most mystical of numbers. According to the Greek historian Diodorus, Heracles was initiated into the Eleusinian Mysteries prior to performing his eleventh labor. Specifically, he was initiated into the Outer Mysteries which were sacred to Kore. This was required before he could descend into the realm of the dead to fetch Cerberus, the three-headed dog who guarded the gates of the Underworld. The number eleven is formed with two ones which symbolize the principle of twinness. Naturally, this corresponds to the goddesses Kore and Demeter. In the Visconti-Sforza image, there are four men surrounding the wheel which symbolize the division of the year into four seasons. In addition, the animal ears and tails of varying lengths represent to the progressive stages of plant growth. Kore was associated with the goddesses Ker, Q’re, Car, Carman, and Carmenta. Interestingly, Carmenta was the Roman goddess who formed the Latin alphabet from the Greek alphabet. Accordingly, Libera is the only Trump with writing upon it as it corresponds to a Latin alphabet wheel.
[edit] Trump M
12. MAGNITVDO ~ The twelfth Trump corresponds to the letter ‘M’, the number twelve, and the symbolic meaning of ‘trees’. The Latin word magnitudo means ‘strength’ or ‘power’. The letter ‘M’ forms the shape of the twin mountaintops. According to Sumerian myths, the sun was born from the twin peaks of the tree-covered mountain Mashu, the destination of Gilgamesh in his quest to obtain immortality. During his heroic journey, he defeated the Bull of Heaven, killed a lion and wore its golden pelt. Appropriately, Gilgamesh was identified with the demigod Heracles who obtained immortality by nursing from the breasts of Hera, slew the the Nemean lion, wore its impenetrable pelt, and captured the Cretan Bull. The number twelve corresponds to the Twelve Labors of Heracles which symbolize the journey of the sun through the twelve signs of the zodiac. Known as the ‘Green Zeus’, Heracles was originally an agricultural god and he was closely associated with trees. According to the Greek historian Diodorus, the twelfth and final labor of Heracles was to obtain the fruit of Hera’s golden apple-tree which was guarded by the dragon Ladon. This corresponds with the plant of immortality sought by Gilgamesh. In addition, Heracles carried an oak club which could bring about rain by pounding it within a hollow oak and by swirling an oak branch in a pool. Every spring, he brought fertility to the land by performing a “greenwood marriage” with the Queen of the Woods, thus identifying him as the King of the Woods. The clubs that Heracles used to defeat both the Lion of Cithaeron and the Nemean Lion were cut from wild-olive trees. Also, Heracles planted the wild-olive tree in the Sacred Grove at Olympia. According to Irish legend, the Ogham tree alphabet was invented by the lion-skinned Ogma Sun-face, also known as Heracles Ogmius. Furthermore, Heracles was the greatest of heroes and he personified the vast strength of trees, the largest and most powerful of all living things.
[edit] Trump N
13. NOXA ~ The thirteenth Trump correponds to the letter ‘N’, the number thirteen, and the symbolic meaning of ‘human being’. The Latin word noxa means ‘injury’, ‘harm’, or ‘offense’. Graphically speaking, the letter ‘N’ symbolizes birth, death, and resurrection as it rises, then falls, and rises again. In addition, the number thirteen corresponds to Dionysus, the thirteenth Olympian. Pregnant with the child of Zeus, Persephone gave birth to Zagreus, the bull form of Dionysus. Furious with Zeus, Hera ordered the Titans to slaughter his infant child. The monsters tore Zagreus-Dionysus into pieces and gorged upon his flesh. Athena managed to rescue his heart, however, and brought it before Zeus. In order to resurrect his son, he swallowed his heart and then impregnated the mortal Semele while disguised as a human. Accordingly, Dionysus was known as the ‘Child of the Double-Door’. Enraged with the Titans, Zeus incinerated them with lightning bolts and from their ashes he created the human race. According to the Orphics, this represented the higher and lower nature of humanity. The physical body was attributed to the Titans and the spirit was attributed to Dionysus. Interestingly, Plato states that the spirit resides upside-down within the body. What is more, Dionysus was regularly depicted crimson-stained which signified his temporary reign as the sacred king who was sacrificed at the end of his term. Furthermore, images of him were frequently hung on trees and wooden poles. In a similar fashion, the Visconti-Sforza image depicts a male hanging upside-down from a wooden gallows with several streams of blood flowing down his torso. As the god of wine, the “blood of the grape”, Dionysus was associated with inebriation, spiritual bliss, ecstasy, madness, and altered states of consciousness. Disguised as a mortal, he wandered the world teaching the art of viniculture. Dionysus revealed to his initiates the mysteries of fermentation which symbolized the transformation of the material into the divine. He was identified with the dying and resurrected god Attis.
[edit] Trump O
14. ORCVS ~ The fourteenth Trump corresponds to the letter ‘O’, the number fourteen, and the symbolic meaning of ‘psychopomp’. The letter ‘O’ symbolizes both the new moon and the full moon. Similarly, the number fourteen corresponds to the number of nights between new moon and full moon. Initiations into the Outer Mysteries were performed during the full moon and initiations into the Inner Mysteries were performed during the new moon. During these ceremonies, the initiate symbolically died and was escorted by the Lord of the Dead through the seven spheres to the Underworld. Then the initiate was guided back through through the seven spheres and was symbolically resurrected. This corresponded to the number fourteen, the double seven. Orcus was a title of Dis Pater, the Celtic and Roman god of the netherworld. He was associated with underground deposits of gemstones and precious metals. Dis Pater was sometimes depicted with a wolf-head or a wolfskin cap. Canines such as wolves, jackals, and dogs are all eaters of the dead and they carried the deceased to the netherworld in a piecemeal fashion. Orcus was equivalent to the jackal-headed god Anubis, the Egyptian Psychopomp and Judge of the Dead. He guided souls through the seven gates of the Underworld and brought them before Osiris. In the Hall of Judgment, Anubis weighed the hearts of the deceased on the Scales of Justice. As a funerary god, he was associated with embalming and mummification. Anubis was depicted wearing a ribbon which indicated his role in embalming and mummification. In addition, Anubis was known as Ruler of the Bows which corresponded to the weapons that he used to arm the Ennead against the enemies of Egypt. In the Visconti-Sforza image, the skeletal Lord of the Dead wears a ribbon upon his head and holds a bow and arrow. Dis Pater was also associated with the Greek god Hades, the ruler of the netherworld and wife of Persephone. He possessed the ‘Helmet of Hades’ which enabled the wearer to become invisible. Therefore, the individual could enter and exit the Realm of the Dead without restriction. As the Greek word for ‘helmet’ also means “dog hide”, it appears that the cap was a dog-skin helmet, most likely the origin of the wolfskin cap worn by Dis Pater. In addition, the helmet of invisibility was identified with the skull-mask worn by the Grim Reaper, otherwise known as Macabre, who also wore a skeleton suit.
[edit] Trump P
15. PLVVIA ~ The fifteenth Trump corresponds to the letter ‘P’, the number fifteen, and the symbolic meaning of ‘water’ and ‘flow’. The Latin word pluvia means ‘rain’ or ‘rainwater’. The letter ‘P’ forms the shape of a chalice pouring out water upon the earth. This corresponds to the Sumerian goddess Inanna, the Lady of Heaven. Her sacred number was fifteen and she was frequently depicted holding a vase of flowing water. Inanna was equivalent to the Mithraic goddess Anahita who was associated with the celestial spring that flowed from the starry vault into the rivers of earth. Likewise, she was frequently depicted holding a vase of water. The number fifteen signifies the full moon which occurs on the fifteenth day of the lunar cycle and generates high tides. In addition, the full moon symbolizes the roundness of a pregnant belly and it corresponds to the Mother phase of the Threefold Goddess. Anahita was identified with the goddess Cybele, otherwise known as Magna Mater (‘Great Mother’). She was worshipped on the tree-covered summits of mountains where no axe had ever touched a tree-trunk. According to the Greeks, the name Cybele means “she of the hair”. Appropriately, the Visconti-Sforza image depicts a woman with exceptionally long, golden blonde hair. The Greek form of her name was most likely derived from Kubaba, which means “hollow vessel”, “vase”, and “cave”. Interestingly, of the six ideograms for the name Kubaba, half feature one vase and the other half feature two vases. In Rome, the annual celebration of the Mysteries of Cybele and Attis commenced on the fifteenth day of March. Furthermore, the Sibylline Oracles were closely connected with worship of the Great Mother. A sibyl was a prophetess and the term is a Latin form of Cybele. In fact, Cybele was originally brought to Rome after a consultation of the Sibylline Books in response to the brutal attacks of Hannibal. Over time, the Sibylline Books were expanded to fifteen in number and the priests who were allowed to interpret them were also increased to fifteen, known as the quindecimvir.
[edit] Trump Q
16. QVIRINVS ~ The sixteenth Trump corresponds to the letter ‘Q’, the number sixteen, and the symbolic meaning of ‘phallus’ and ‘male generative principle’. The letter ‘Q’ creates the spear-and-shield symbol of Mars after being rotated upwards to a more erect position. Quirinus was a title of Mars, the Roman god of war and agriculture. Although he was known as the Spear God, he was much more successful in love than in war. Mars was identified with Silvanus, the Roman god of forests and protector of fields. He was the companion of Rhea Silvia, the priestess of Vesta. She gave birth to the twins Romulus and Remus who became the founders of Rome. Another form of Silvanus was the Greek satyr Pan. Similar to Silvanus, he was a woodland deity and he also served as the guardian of herds and flocks. As a phallic god, Pan was the embodiment of the masculine procreative energy. He seduced numerous nymphs and coupled with all of the Maenads of Dionysus. Pan embodied all the aspects of nature and his death fertilized the earth as with other sacred kings. The original Visconti-Sforza image is missing, however, it likely depicted a satyr or goat-legged god. The number sixteen symbolizes the multiplication of matter, the four material elements magnified four times. Also, it represents increase and carnal generation as the original couple, multiplied by two, multiplied by two, multiplied by two, equals sixteen.
[edit] Trump R
17. RVINA ~ The seventeenth Trump corresponds to the letter ‘R’, the number seventeen, and the symbolic meaning of ‘female creative principle’ and ‘womb’. The Latin word ruina means ‘fall’, ‘collapse’, or ‘ruins’. The letter ‘R’ signifies a pregnant belly supported by two legs. Without any male intervention, the mother goddess Juno became pregnant with Vulcan. For this reason, he symbolized the feminine creative energy, despite being male. He was the personification of the divine fire that sparkled within the stars, smoldered within depths of the earth, imbued fruitfulness upon plants, animated all living creatures, and blasted forth from the clouds as lightning. As the smith god, Vulcan had a magical connection with the feminine energies of nature. He crafted jewelry, palaces, weaponry, and even mechanical women fashioned from gold, all with the most exquisite workmanship. Upon passing by the forge of a smith, Pythagoras conceived the seven notes of the diatonic scale which is based upon the 8:9 interval. To the Pythagoreans, this was known as “the Barrier”, seventeen separated into eight and nine. Similarly, Osiris was trapped inside a coffin by Set and cast into the sea on the seventeenth day of the month Athyr. This symbolized the descent of spirit into matter. Likewise, Vulcan was cast out of Olympus by Jupiter and fell through the heavens down to the earth. In addition, the diatonic music scale consisted of seven notes which signified the seven spheres of heaven. What is more, craftspersons who employed the principles of sacred geometry maintained that architecture was “frozen music”. Not only did Vulcan symbolize the feminine creative, he was also the creator of the first female, Pandora, who enabled humankind to procreate. Vulcan was identified with the Egyptian god Ptah. He was an androgynous deity who represented the union of the god Nun with the goddess Naunet. Ptah was the sculptor of humankind, architect of the earth, craftsman of the heavenly vault, and creator of the arts and crafts. He was also associated with artisans, smiths, and jewelry-makers. Ptah was frequently depicted standing upon a pedestal which represented the mound of creation, a symbol of the pregnant belly of the earth. The Visconti-Sforza image is missing, however, it probably depicted an individual falling from either a tower or an obelisk struck by lightning.
[edit] Trump S
18. STELLAE ~ The eighteenth Trump corresponds to the letter ‘S’, the number eighteen, and the symbolic meaning of ‘stars’. The Latin word stellae means ‘stars’. The letter ‘S’ corresponds to the serpentine motion made by Venus during its retrograde cycle which occurs every eighteen months. Venus was the goddess of sensual desire, fertility, and love. She emerged naked from the sea and was gently wafted ashore by the West Wind while riding upon a scallop shell. Her beauty was unsurpassed and flowers sprang from the ground she walked upon. Each spring, she ritually bathed in the sea which restored both her maidenhood and the virginity of the earth. She was symbolized by the brightest ‘star’ in the night sky, the planet Venus. As the morning star, she was the goddess of war and hunting. As the evening star, she was the goddess of love and sensuality. She possessed a magic girdle which had irresistible powers of seduction. Her emblems were the eight-rayed star and the mystical pentagram. This is due to the fact that every eight years the planet Venus undergoes exactly five retrograde cycles forming a five-pointed star upon the zodiac. Venus was identified with the Babylonian goddess Ishtar. When her lover Tammuz died, Ishtar descended to the netherworld to rescue him. Upon her arrival, the Queen of the Underworld imprisoned her and inflicted every disease upon her. Furthermore, her prolonged absence form the earth caused plants to become fruitless and animals to become infertile. Ultimately, in order to prevent a worldwide famine, it was determined that Tammuz would spend one half of the year in the upper world and one half of the year in the lower world. Finally, Ishtar was released from the Underworld and she restored fertility to the earth once again.
[edit] Trump T
19. TRINA ~ The nineteenth Trump corresponds to the letter ‘T’, the number nineteen, and the symbolic meaning of ‘moon’ and ‘Hekate’. The Latin word trina means ‘threefold’ or ‘triple’. The letter ‘T’ forms the shape of a crossroads. The number nineteen corresponds to the Metonic cycle, a period of nineteen years when the full moon occurs on the same day of the year. Hekate was the ancient lunar goddess who governed the aspects of birth, life, and death. She possessed the power of conferring upon or withholding from mortals any object they desired. In her Crone aspect, Hekate was known as the Queen of the Ghostworld and was associated with night and darkness. She was a chthonic deity and presided over the arts of magic, divination, prophecy, and necromancy. One of her epithets was ‘Hekate Trevia’ which means “Hekate of the Three Ways”. Hekate was worshipped at the intersection where three roads met, always by torch-light. She was frequently depicted with three heads, three bodies, and six arms. Hekate was accompanied by a pack of howling dogs, as canines howled at the moon. Also, they were associated with death and possessed the ability to see ghosts. Hekate was identified with the Egyptian goddess Heket, the divine midwife. She was also associated with the moon goddesses Artemis and Selene who represented the Virgin and Mother aspects of the moon respectively. The Visconti-Sforza image depicts a female individual holding a waning crescent moon in her right hand symbolizing the Crone aspect of the Triple Goddess. In addition, she is holding a cord that emerges from under the folds of her dress with her left hand. This corresponds to the umbilical cord which she cuts in her role as a midwife-goddess. Furthermore, the letter ‘T’ forms the shape of a labrys, otherwise known as the double-axe, which was sacred to the Lunar Goddess as its twin blades corresponded to the waxing and waning crescents.
[edit] Trump V
20. VICTOR-VNVS ~ The twentieth Trump corresponds to the letter ‘V’, the number twenty, and the symbolic meaning of ‘sun’. The Latin words victor-unus means ‘victorious one’. The letter ‘V’ forms the shape of twin radii. This corresponds to Horus, the Divine Sun of Isis. He was a warrior god skilled in combat with a bow and arrows. Known as Horus the Younger and Horus the Elder, he signified the rising sun and setting sun. The hieroglyph for Horus was represented by a falcon which corresponded the number ten as Horus was the tenth god added to the original Ennead. Accordingly, the number twenty represents the double twenty, the younger and elder aspects of Horus. Also, the Egyptian form of his name was Heru, which was also associated with the word for ‘face’. Likewise, Horus was known as the ‘Face of Heaven’, dazzling all who gazed upon him. Moreover, as the falcon god, he was known as the ‘Golden Horus’. The Egyptian word for gold was nebu and was represented by the hieroglyph depicting a beaded necklace. The Visconti-Sforza image shows a youth wearing a beaded necklace, holding the radiating face of the sun. Horus was identified with the Greek sun god Apollo, the twin brother of the moon goddess Artemis. He was known as the god of light and ruled over prophecy, medicine, science, poetry, and music. He was twice victorious in musical contests with the satyrs Marsyas and Pan. Also, the Delphic Oracle was sacred to him and two of his proverbs were inscribed upon it: ‘Know Thyself’ and ‘Nothing in Excess’. Both Horus and Apollo were victorious over a dragon or serpent. Horus vanquished Set-Typhon to avenge his father and Apollo slew the serpent Python to avenge his mother.
[edit] Trump X
21. XIPHIAS ~ The twenty-first Trump corresponds to the letter ‘X’, the number 21, and the symbolic meaning of ‘solar halo’ and ‘enlightenment’. The Latin word xiphias means ‘sword-shaped’. The letter ‘X’ forms the shape of a diagonal cross. In the Mysteries of Mithras, this appears to have been inscribed upon the foreheads of some of the initiates. Mithras was the god of light and he illuminated the sun, moon, and stars. According to the Persians, he was miraculously born from a rock. This symbolized the light which emanated from the vault of heaven. In addition, Mithraic Mysteries centered around a ladder consisting of seven rungs, each featuring three symbols. This corresponds to the number twenty-one, the triple seven of perfection. Accordingly, Mithras was closely connected with both the number seven and the number three. For example, the name Mithras is composed of seven letters and he was frequently depicted with seven stars upon his cloak which symbolized the spheres of heaven. Moreover, Mithras formed a trinity with the two torchbearers Cautes and Cautopates. Also, he was the mediator, or third principle, between Ahura Mazda, the Ruler of Heaven, and Angra Mainyu, the Ruler of the Abyss. As the creator of the world, Mithras sacrificed the heavenly bull with his sword and brought forth all of creation from its blood. This symbolized the sunlight of the spring equinox, originally in the zodiacal sign of Taurus, which annually created new life on earth. The Visconti-Sforza image depicts a male deity emerging from the heavens holding a sword in his right hand. Similarly, Mithras was frequently depicted armed with a sword which represented the power of illumination to vanquish the forces of darkness and separate truth from falsehood. In addition, the sword corresponded to the Bridge of Requiter upon which Mithras judged the souls of the dead. For virtuous souls, the bridge transformed into a broad path and allowed them to enter Heaven. For wicked souls, the bridge became razor-thin and plunged them into the Abyss. Also accompanying him are two angels each blowing a trumpet which form the shape of the letter ‘X’.
[edit] Trump Z
22. ZODIACVS ~ The twenty-second Trump corresponds to the letter ‘Z’, the number twenty-two, and the symbolic meaning of ‘cosmos’. The Latin word zodiacus means ‘zodiac’. The letter ‘Z’ is formed by two parallel lines which correspond to the twins Castor and Pollux who personified the northern and southern hemispheres of the night sky respectively. The diagonal line connecting them corresponds to the ecliptic upon which lies the zodiac. The number twenty-two symbolizes twinness, two and two. This corresponded to the twin brothers Castor and Pollux and their twin sisters Clytemnestra and Helen. Also, the number twenty-two corresponds to the circumference of a circle when the diameter equals the sacred number seven, as the ratio for pi was approximated as 22/7. According to the Greeks, Zeus seduced the mortal Leda in the form of a swan. From her World Egg, the twins Castor and Pollux were born. They were known as the Dioscuri which meant ‘Sons of Zeus’ and both wore caps formed from half of an egg-shell. In addition, they were sometimes depicted with crossed legs which symbolizes the sun crossing the celestial equator. Castor was the mortal brother and he was renowned as a horseman. Pollux was the immortal brother and he was legendary as a boxer. They assisted warriors in battle and protected sailors at sea. When Castor was killed, the grief-stricken Pollux demanded his own death from the gods. Zeus told him he could reside in Olympus alone for eternity or he could alternate days between heaven and earth with his beloved brother. Pollux selflessly chose to take turns in heaven with Castor and Zeus granted his request. The World Egg from which the Twins were born represented the two hemispheres of the heavenly zodiac which revolve around one another. In the upper hemisphere, the summer solstice occurred when the sun stopped at its highest point in the sky and began to decline. This was known as the Gate of Mortals and it represented the portal where the soul descended from heaven into a mortal body. In the lower hemisphere, the winter solstice occurred when the sun stopped at its lowest point in the sky and began to rise again. This was known as the Gate of the Immortals and it represented the portal where the soul ascended to heaven to become immortal. Accordingly, the Heavenly Twins were the personification of the two opposite, yet complimentary, forces which form the foundation of the entire cosmos.
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