Friday, January 12, 2018

ARTIFACT #2, THE DEATH CARD, TESSERACTS 22 ALCHEMY AND ARTIFACTS

THE DEATH CARD FROM THE VISCONTI-SFORZA TAROT is one of the remaining cards from a collection of the earliest decks commissioned by Filippo Maria Visconti, the Duke of Milan, and his son-in-law, Francesco Sforza.

Back in the 15th century, tarot cards were used to play a game known as Trionfi, then later Tarocchi, Tarocchini, and other names. In France, the game was known as Tarot. Decks consisted of 78 cards – 22 trump cards, of which Death was one, as well as 56 minor or pip cards numbering 1 through 10, plus four face cards – the King, Queen, Knight, and Page (or Jack).

According to most sources, tarot cards became associated with cartomancy in the 18th century, but I wonder if they weren’t used for divination earlier. Here’s an intriguing fact. Of the remaining cards in the Visconti-Sforza collections, only two trump cards (or Major Arcana) are missing: the Devil and the Tower. Both cards depict ill circumstances (although in modern day interpretations, they also have less dire meanings). Back in the middle ages, the Devil card might have been seen as a literal indication of the Devil and his works, a foretelling of evil deeds, terrible loss, and damnation. As for the Tower, it pointed to accidents, disaster, and ruin; the mighty struck down by God on high for their power and pride. (Again, modern interpretations allow room for positive outcomes.) All said, it intrigues me that these two cards – the Devil and the Tower – are missing from the Visconti-Sforza collection. Why? Were they destroyed because some medieval soul feared what they might bring? Or could they have been used in a magical rite? And if they were, to what end? What was happening in Europe in the mid-1400’s?

In 1440, the printing press with movable type was born, which, on the surface, was a good thing, but also meant the birth of greater independent thought. Humanism encouraged the study of history and literature focusing on the ancient world, which would have loosened the Church's grip on the medieval mind - not a good thing in its opinion. In 1453, Constantinople fell to the Ottomans, ending the Byzantine Empire. In 1462, Vlad the Impaler invaded Bulgaria and impaled over 23,000 Turks and Bulgarians in what may have been a strike for Christendom (but more likely, Vlad was consolidating his own position). If these events were linked to dark magic, they would make for an interesting story. 

On a happier and more personal note, one of my best memories is of Robert Zelazny, who wrote many wonderful books, including his series, The Chronicles of Amber, of which The Nine Princes in Amber is my favourite. The Chronicles uses tarot cards as magical artifacts. The characters are represented through various trumps; the cards are also portals for travel and communication. Apparently, Roger was fascinated with the tarot (as am I). As Guest of Honour, he attended a convention here in Edmonton in 1993. After I was introduced to him, he asked me if I wrote. I’d just had my first short story published in On Spec Magazine. He had a copy of the issue and said he looked forward to reading my story. With that one kind comment, I learned that great writers are also great people, generous and supportive of newcomers. When he died in 1995, I was sad to hear of it. We lost a great writer and a great human being in his passing.

His series also inspired a modern day tarot deck - the Amber deck - created by French artist Florence Magnin. Here is her version of the Death card:



Until next time, may inspiration strike you.

Happy writing. - Susan.

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