TAROCCHI DI MANTEGNA [1465, ITALY]
50 card Tarocchi di Mantegna (or Mantegna Tarot)
These are 50 instructional cards subdivided into five “suits” or groupings demonstrating The ascent of the human soul:
1. EARTH: The Human Condition [Earthly realm]
2. FIRE: The 9 Muses & Apollo
3. AIR: The Classical Liberal Arts 4. WATER: The Cardinal Virtues 5. SPIRIT: The Heavenly Spheres [Heavenly Spheres]
1. EARTH: THE HUMAN CONDITION EARTHLY REALM
Impoverished Servant Craftsman Merchant Nobleman
Knight Magistrate King Emperor Pope
2. FIRE: THE 9 MUSES & APOLLO
Caliope Urania Terpischore Erato Polyhmnia
The Epic Astronomy Dance The Romance The Hymn
Euterpe Clio Apollo Comedy The Tragedy Music History
Thalia Melpomene
3. AIR: The Classical Liberal Arts [Air]
The 9 muses, personify states of consciousness that facilitate one’s homonoia [ideal state of collective mind & heart].
The 10th state is the invocation of Apollo|Theology|Religion, who presides over the muses & is the god of truth & prophecy.
The Trivium [Trinity of Humanities]: 1. Grammar, Logic & Rhetoric.
The Quadrivium: 1. Geometry|Fire; 2. Music|Water; 3. Astrology|Astronomy|Air & 4. Arithmetic|Numerology|Earth
Spirit|Genius Spirit|Genius Spirit|Genius Temperance Prudence of the Sun of Time: of the World: Temperantia Prudentia
Iliaco Chronico Cosmico Sophia 4 seasons Ouroboros Space Dog|Cat|Ermine Mirror Sun Disc Dragon Heavenly Globe Two Vases Dragon
Fortitude Justice Virtue: Virtue: Virtue: Fortitudo Iustitia Charity Hope Faith
Sceptre|Lion Sword|Scales|Crane Wallet|Pelican Prayer|Phoenix Chalice|Dog
4. WATER: The Cardinal Virtues
5. SPIRIT: The Heavenly Spheres [Heavenly Spheres]
The Moon Mercury Venus The Sun Mars
LET’S TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE SPIRIT: The Heavenly Spheres
[Heavenly Spheres]
The Center: Earth
1st Sphere: Luna
2nd Sphere: Mercury
3rd Shere: Venus
4th Sphere: Sun
5th Sphere: Mars
6th Sphere: Jupiter
7th Sphere: Saturn
8th Sphere: Angel of the 8th Sphere [Octava Spera: representative of the fixed stars & the firmanent]
9th Sphere: Crystalline Ninth Heaven [Primum Mobile: in Renaissance Astronomy & astrology resprents that which initiates movement in our universe]
10th Sphere: Prima Causa: First Principle [Empyrean Heaven; the Dwelling of God] It’s the theological argument for why God exists: “ex nihilo nihil fit” = “nothing comes from nothing”
The Moon
