Pope or Hierophant
From Tarotpedia
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[edit] History and Iconography
[edit] Early representations
In the earliest known list of the Trumps (Sermones de Ludo Cum Aliis), this card is called El Pape (The Pope). In the Visconti-Sforza Tarot, he is portrayed as an old man with a white beard. He wears a three-layered tiara (see article Papal Tiara on Wikipedia) and in his left hand holds a thin sceptre topped with a cross, as does the Popess in the same deck. With his right hand, he is in the act of giving a blessing.
On the Cary Sheet, the card that most likely represents the Pope can only partly be seen; from it, we can gather that he is depicted seated and wearing long robes. There is a sort of pillar behind him, which is probably part of his throne. On the Rosenwald Sheet, he is depicted as a rather young man who simply wears a tiara.
In the Tarot de Marseille, the card is titled Le Pape (The Pope). He is again shown giving a blessing and crowned with a tiara. In his left hand he holds a staff with three crossbars at the top and his gloves are decorated with the Maltese cross. There are now clearly two pillars behind him, which could be symbolic of the Temple of Solomon or of the way the Pope links earth to heaven and heaven to earth. Two tonsured clergyman – who, by the way, seem particularly small in comparison to the Pope – are seen from the back and sit in adoration.
In the 18th-century Belgian Tarot, this card is replaced by Bacus (Bacchus) and shows the god of wine seated on a cask, drinking from a bottle and crowned with vines. The 19th-century Besancon Tarot replaces it with Jupiter.
[edit] 20th-century representations
The Waite-Colman Smith renames this card The Hierophant. Court de Gébelin already refers to the card as the "Chief of Hierophants or the High Priest" in his Le Monde Primitif (1781). The word 'hierophant' is derived from the ancient Greek word for High Priest, 'ιεροφαντης (hierophantès). He is depicted as seated on a stone throne between two pillars: he is crowned and with his right hand gives a blessing and in his left hand holds a staff with three crossbars. Two tonsured clergymen stand with their backs turned to us at the base of the card.
[edit] Suggested Divinatory Meanings
The Pope or Hierophant is generally seen as a spiritual teacher, one who gives advice and guidance to those seeking it. In both the Tarot de Marseille and the Waite-Colman Smith, he is shown giving a blessing, a sign of kindness, love and protection. He is the one who connects man to God or the Gods, and as a result represents (structured) religion and the value of tradition (as opposed to the freely flowing spirituality of the Popess or High Priestess).
However, in a few decks, such as the Robin Wood Tarot, this card is interpreted in a negative light and is seen as indicating repression, oppression and rigour.
[edit] Attributions
These are not accepted outside of those who follow such attributions
[edit] General |
[edit] Golden Dawn oriented (and derivatives) |
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Numeral : V; 5
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[edit] In other languages
- Dutch: Hiërofant
- French: Le Pape
- German: Der Hierophant
- Hungarian: Pápa
- Italian: Il Papa
- Portuguese: O Papa, O Hierofante
- Spanish: El Hierofante, El Papa, El Sumo Sacerdote
[edit] See also
- English Wikipedia article "Myths and legends surrounding the Papacy" - includes a discussion of papal tiara and a discussion of Pope Joan
