Theory has it that the 4th Cardinal Virtue, Prudence, is ‘missing’ from Tarot de Marseille. Many have tried to figure out which, if any, of the other trumps could possibly be her (Star, Popess, Hanged Man, Hermit and World have been proposed). My own speculation is that, if she is indeed present and hiding, a conglomerate of Popess and Pope could share the role of Prudence, on account of the Janus face, as well as making sense numerically – each Virtue falls into the ‘2’ placement, as do the Pope and Popess. Prudence was said to be the ‘mother of all Virtues’, without which one could not master the others. However, the World card does suggest wisdom attained (the Stone), as opposed to wisdom being received or sought.
In a previous article, ‘Disrobing the Papal Couple – Tarot de Marseille’s Pope and Popess,‘ I used an image (sculpture) of a Janus-faced Prudence as the opener. But because I’m more attracted to exploring the cryptic, esoteric principals at work in TdM, and the Cardinal Virtue identities of Justice, Strength and Temperance are exoteric, I didn’t venture down that road. There’s enough existing literature on this. Instead, I explored the Popess as an initiator, oracle and portal to the mysteries, noting that her book was wide open because her ‘greater’ mystery was hidden inside. Also that the strap going across her chest went from the book’s spine to her heart, suggesting a pathway of ascent.
BUT there was one thing I had neglected to notice, another piece of the puzzle. It just amazes me how Tarot de Marseille keeps offering up new bits n pieces, like treasures washing up on the beach. Maybe I’m late to the game, but I’ve never encountered mention of it anywhere, so, for what it’s worth…
Above is a relief from the gothic Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris. It’s entitled ‘Allegory of Alchemy’ but has also been called ‘Philosophia’ or ‘Sophia Wisdom’. (The two aren’t mutually exclusive, to alchemists). The important detail is that the figure is holding two books; one is held open, symbolizing the exoteric, the other is hidden behind, closed, symbolizing the esoteric. The 9-runged ladder – the scala philosophorum – is an alchemical emblem of the mystical ascension “that raises man through the transformation towards the Divine and the understanding of art.” In his definitive book, The Mystery of the Cathedrals, Fulcanelli describes it as “glyph of the patience the faithful must possess in the course of the nine successive operations of the hermetic labour.” In other words, the hidden book’s content – esoteric knowledge – is revealed only by way of ascension.
Now, please look tres carefully at these ‘type 2’ versions of the TdM Popess, below. Do you see it?
…How about in these ones?
That’s right…TWO BOOKS. One open on top, the other closed, hidden behind/under it.
The serpent held by Prudence is said to represent Wisdom (‘be ye wise as serpents’), but when she also holds a book, the serpent might represent esoteric wisdom in particular, ie, mysteries. “Look like th’ innocent flower but be the serpent under’t” ? (MacBeth is rife with alchemical symbolism, read about that here). The Popess, by her number is the first expression of duality. Thus, she is the gateway to and source of two wisdom paths; outer and inner, solar and lunar. On one level, she represents the orthodox teachings of the faith (church) and/or (if you like) the Cardinal Virtue Prudence/classical Wisdom. Simultaneously, on another level, Gnostic Wisdom and/or secret knowledge, aka ‘for initiates’.
The Juggler laid out the tools and the Popess provides the instruction manuals, two ways of understanding the Tarot de Marseille. But perhaps it is first necessary, as with the ‘lesser mysteries’, to start with the book that is open, before venturing into the ‘greater mysteries,’ which ultimately lie within. ~rb
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– Ladder quote from ‘Isis in Paris: Notes on the hermetic Symbolism of Notre Dame Cathedral’, Axis Mundi
– Full text of Fulcanelli’s Mystery of the Cathedrals ( English translation).
– Audio of same, for those who like to be read to.
– Great image of the alchemical ladder in this scholarly paper on alchemy in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar’.
– Another site detailing the alchemical symbolism at Notre Dame.
Here’s another example of Notre Dame’s Hermetic/alchemical content.
These figures represent the different stages of the work.
Roxanna, I love your explorations of the symbols in the Tarot de Marseilles, even though I don’t always see them as having the intentional meanings that you do. A few are obviously mistaken by the woodblock cutters or inkers as they get copied from print house to print house, as seen in the examples you so graciously provide. Regarding the image from the Notre Dame Cathedral, the ladder rungs could as easily have been the nine hierarchies of angels. Still, I learn a lot about medieval and Renaissance symbolism by reading your posts, and have been looking more closely at these cards.
Mary
Thanks, Mary, I appreciate you taking the time to read and consider. Yes, there are many possibilities. That’s why I always do the back-up research to see whether it would actually make sense for ‘something’ to be there. Nine hierarchies of angels is totally plausible as an exoteric explanation, and can happily co-exist with the alchemical ladder one – although the relief is entitled ‘Allegory of Alchemy’ and the ladder is known as the scala philosophorum. The very nature of 2 is that it is either going to bring divisiveness (which is why it was mistrusted by Pythagoreans and Christians alike) or unification.
As a lover of the TdM, I enjoy learning about the history and symbolism of the cards. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and thoughts about the Popess. I will look more closely at her now.
Thank you Judith, glad you enjoyed the article!