Ross: If you can't argue from a position of certainty or proof, try to argue from a position of probability.

Shades of Sherlock!

Bee

SteveM: an established localised convention amongs players of the game. This is what I was getting at. How strange that a local convention would order the images in such a way. They may not have had them numbered, but apparently did have a ranking of sorts. Which means that we are still struggling ...

Lemme get this right. 1) The 'trumps' were created purely to enhance the Game, as there is (sadly) no evidence for any other purpose. 2) They wern't numbered - so people at that time/place were so familiar with the images that numbers wern't needed. 3) There is evidence that originally the trumps we...

Based on the previous posts (thank you people!) it seems that there is a distinction between Page/Knight and Valet/Cavalier. Valet/Page: The Valet is now coming across as someone with public status, having a declared allegiance to a recognised power. He has domestic duties or office/position, but is...

I was studiously browsing this forum, quietly chewing on a jelly baby - then I came across the Four of Pen-tail-cles from your Angelic Vampire Pirate Cats Tarot Hilarious :)) Then... more gales of laughter as realized that some people would probably want to own it =)) Thank you Robert, you've really...

Thank you for that post. Throughly enjoyed your comparisons, your museings, and the pics.

Small comment. I happen to like the replacement of the Pope & Papess with Juno and Jupiter. Delightful!
Now you can all flame me - I don't care

Bee

I have to agree with Lorredan. The very early Norse legends relate to three seasons, not four. And yes, it's astronomical, a result of the Earths passage around the Sun. At some point in the future our orbit will once again 'generate' three seasons. (generate = probably wrong word - but you know wha...

Roubret: Historically, I think a great question to ask is "Why does the Tarot de Marseille have only three figures on the Wheel instead of the much more standard four figures?" I would also prefer the Wheel to have four figures :) I have seen an explanation of the 3-figures on the Wheel, p...

RAH: Are you saying that because no 'turner of the wheel' is shown on the card, that it means the figures themselves are turning the wheel? That would be completely opposite of the general meaning the allegory of Fortune had historically. Because there is no person depicted turning the handle, I thi...

Example (rather rushed... adapt to suit query): The Ace clubs/batons is Wood, it is 'generating' Fire. The association of Wood with the suit of clubs/batons is only tempory, just to help clarify how the numbers would function. A main factor of Wood is that it is a renewing element. It's aim is to ge...