Please Help Me Unravel The Enoil Gavat
Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 05 Sep 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.
| Little Baron |
05 Sep 2004 |
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From looking at reviews on the web, I get the idea that this deck is not favoured as much as Tavaglione's other two packs; I think that because the colours are minimal and every card, aside from some details in the picture, is orange and yellow.
As I probably said before in a previous post, I saw this deck in a shop in London. It was open already and on a shelf. I flicked through it and thought it different to the decks I was used to. I had never seen it before or heard of it.
The next time I went back to the shop, I looked for it, and as before, it was sitting alone on the top shelf. I asked the woman behind the counter if there was a new one in stock that was unopened and she looked at it curiously. She said she didn't even though that the deck was in the shop and when asking the other guy that worked there about it, he said he had never seen it before either. They both looked through it and decided to knock some money off of it since it was already opened. After looking at it on the train, I realised that it has a very strong smell of incense which is still there now. The shop which I bought it in has readers upstairs by appointment and I wonder if it is a deck that had once been used by one of them.
I don't know what it is about this deck but it continually tugs at me; maybe it is something to do with the way in which it came to be mine. It felt as though it was just sitting there, waiting.
Another reason that I think people do not favour it is down to the symbols on it; the fact that there is so many. Which is the reason that I write this post. I was hoping for another EG reader to be able to help decither some of them. Some of them are probably completely obvious and I just havn't realised what they are.
Here goes -
On the majors, 1-10 have Kabbalistic references - Il Mago is Kether, La Papessa is Geburah, L'Imperattrice is Binah and so on. My knowledge of the kabbalah is limited, so how correct these correspondances are, I do not know.
Some cards are asigned a number. For example, La Forza (strength) is 20, Death is 40, Temperance is 50. Having probably nothing to do with it, I can see that Temperance, the 14th card could be 4+1=5 (50) and the Sun card being the 19th card could be 1+9=10 (100). I am sure I read somewhere that these numbers are something to do with the value of the hebrew letter asigned.
Does anybody know what the letters correspond to on the bottom right? For example -
1 Il Mago - the letter is A
2 La Papessa - the letter is B
It kind of goes alphabetically until you reach The Lovers, where the letter is V. Then ...
7 is Z (Chariot)
8 is H (Justice)
9 is T (Hermit)
10 is J
11 is Ch
12 is L
13 is M
16 is also Ch.
Can anyone help with unravelling these and more of the symbolism in this deck. Am I just a dumbo?
Yaboot
Here is a sample of the Tower.
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| Cerulean |
05 Sep 2004 |
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First off, I can copy the little white book and send it to you, if you pm me your address. I was thinking of pm-ing you, but I was also going to look online to see if I could find a website to help...so far, I came up with a great Etteilla site, James Revak's "Villa Revak" to help you find the standard correspondences with Etteilla. But for the Enoil Gavat, additional twists as follows:
This is hard to read because Giorgio Tavaglione was designing a deck related to Etteilla's design but not fully based upon any one Etteilla design.
The keyword meanings mirror the Italian Cartomanzia of the 18th century in the minors and the majors mirror a more standard Milanese ordering with an 18th-century-Italian pattern Egyptian Tarot twist.
In terms of the letters, Tavaglione has added sanskrit, Hebrew, esoteric symbols and his own pleasant calligraphy.
I don't think I can type all the differences in one post. It would be easier to copy the book and also point to James Revak site so you can do better comparisons.
It's a pretty deck, the more I look at it. I was able to get it in the U.S. from a toy distributor for a reasonable price.
Regards,
Cerulean.
P.S. I am in the U.S., so if you'd like me to send the copied LWB, please include your country even if you have a U.K. address. I think one of my mailings to a U.K. member was refused at the postal office until I added the country as well as the words "United Kingdom".
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| Macavity |
05 Sep 2004 |
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The correspondences that appear on your Tower card example are very like those of his "Tavaglione Tarot" (You doubtless know "Eniol Gavat" is "Tavaglione" reversed). IMO his other decks seem almost... prototypes for this latter. Though of their own merit too? ;)
Mr.T. also seems to have a liking for Qabalistic correrespondences (me too!) though his use is rather different from Golden Dawn tradition... More "European", perhaps?
The Four letters on the Tower card are (according to me!):
Top Left (yellow circle): Hebrew Letter
Top Right (yellow circle): Corresponding Sanskrit Letter
Bottom Left: Various Zodiacal Correspondences...
Bottom Right: English transliteration of Hebrew/Sanscript letters
The numbers are (probably) the Hebrew numerical correspondence to the alphabet.
Macavity
(Oh, Cerulean beat me to it) GMTA! :D
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| Cerulean |
05 Sep 2004 |
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I believe there is a Hebrew letter and then Tree of Life correspondence. Tavaglione's attributions seem to follow what Mary Greer calls "Continental Tarot" ---if others can correct me on this, much appreciated and I'll edit
0. Fool - Shin
1. Magus - Aleph. Kether
2. Female Pope - Beth. Geburah
3. Empress - Gimel. Binah
4. Emporer - Daleth. Chesed
5. Pope - He. Chokmah
6. Lover - Vah. Tiphareth
7. The Chariot - Zayin. Netzach
8. Justice - Heth. Hod
9. Hermit - Teth. Jesoid
10. Wheel of Fortune - Yod. Malcut.
11. Strength - Kaph
12. The Hanged Man - Lamed
13. (Death card untitled) - Mem
14. Temperance - Nun
15. The Devil - Samekh
16. The Tower - Ayin
17. The Star - Pe
18. The Moon - Sadhe
19. The Sun - Ooph
20. Judgment - Resh
21. The World - Tau
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| Little Baron |
05 Sep 2004 |
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Thank you Cerulean and Macavity
That helps a lot. I really feel a strong pull to this deck; both when I got it and now. There is something about the style of images. I don't know if they possibly remind me of illustrations from an old childhood book or something, but they make me feel nostalgic and conforted. Unlike others, I do like the use of the same colouring all the way through. And the smell that has come with it also touches me in some way. I can smell them as they sit next to me. I prefer this deck to the other two. I can see how the images can seem a little comic book-like to some, but I feel that this one is less cartoony than the others.
Cerulean, it would be great to get a copy of the LWB. Is there a chance that maybe you could scan it and send it that way? Because this seems to be a used deck, it doesn't have a lwb with it - just two extra cards.
Thank you both for your help. There are still other symbols in the cards that I am not clear about; it doesn't help that it is all in Italian, but I do like that since I would find the meanings that are written at the bottom extremely distracting if they were in English.
Best wishes
Yaboot
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| Little Baron |
05 Sep 2004 |
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Thankyou very much for the links Fulgour. I will have a read through them this afternoon.
Yaboot
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| Fulgour |
05 Sep 2004 |
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If I may be permitted, one very important thing
I've learned is that just as the alphabet begins
with Aleph and ends with Taw, so does the Tarot.
Thus, despite numerous decks showing The Fool
as 'Sin (letter 21), he is Taw (letter 22).
But it's a secret, so don't tell anybody...
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| Cerulean |
05 Sep 2004 |
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There are 14 pages of tiny script. Less than eight point type. I do know how to enlarge it on a regular copier. I've tested my scanner on samples of my art and noticed it's limitations and my impatience.
I've given up on scanning large amounts of tiny text, it doesn't work for me.
Tavaglione's designs are very original. I was going to include the copy of the Italian frontpiece, but even that calligraphy of black on orange-brown will be very difficult to reproduce in my limited means.
If someone else here is able to scan for Yaboot, just let me know.
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| Moonbow* |
05 Sep 2004 |
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Hi Yaboot
I am very intrigued by this deck, I have never heard of it before but I just cannot resist decks that are complicated and this one certainly appears to be. Is it actually readable or would you say it is more of a collectors or study deck (all of which are good reasons for having it, to my mind)
Infact it makes me want to explore the other Tavaglione decks. I have only heard of Stairs of Gold which from the Aeclectic decks list looks like the minors are disappointing.
I will be interested to hear how you get on with this deck
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| Fulgour |
05 Sep 2004 |
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The Enoil Gavat Tarot ('Enoil Gavat' is the designer) is also known as the
Esoterical Egyptian Tarot or, in Italian, the Tarocco Esoterico Egiziano.
It is a fascinating tarot deck, not usually easy to locate in the USA.
78 cards in full-color. Card descriptions are in Italian, accompanying
instruction leaflet is in English. Cards measure 80 x 160 mm, which
is approximately 3.15 x 6.3 inches.
[tavaglione says:] Alchemists used to say: "Although not everything
is allowed, everything is possible". So thought I when I approached
to the "Loose pages of Thoth Book" that is Tarots. I observed,
meditated each particular, understanding how everything was
represented by the whole. A Tarot Deck is a microcosm, it is
a model of the "Unique All" and of its movements, symbols,
archetypes, which can't be translated and so betrayed. ...
Symbols are as instruments: the firsts are for the mind,
the seconds are for the hands.
from: Wooden Horse
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| Cerulean |
05 Sep 2004 |
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Wooden Horse Books has the best price for the U.S. on Enoil Gavat. If you are in Europe, Alidastore.com might be your best bet.
Some related discussion:
http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=17537&highlight=tavaglione
Stairs of Gold and Tavaglione Tarots:
http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=12173&highlight=tavaglione
Source for these decks:
http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2746&highlight=tavaglione
By the way, in the above, I may have mentioned a study group--it never worked out.
I can do small readings with the decks, helped by the Italian text keywords in all his decks--except the Stairs of Gold. That is my least favorite now.
I prefer another beautiful oversize and matte stock Egyptian Tarot by Laura Tuan with more delicate paintings--still, the Enoil Gavat has the same meanings and Italian keywords printed on it.
This year through a trade and finalizing my Tavaglione collection, I added his Dal Negro published Sibilla and also the Mantegna--he wrote the Italian commentary for the uncolored engravings. Both show a preference for following Italian master styles with Greco-Roman themes and mainly long-limbed and youthful figures. I think many Americans would say it's a more European art history style
Best wishes,
Cerulean
P.S.
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On scanning the LWB with tiny text:
And sorry, my husband and I ran into the same scanning problem--once the jpg image file was enlarged enough to be adequately read, it was too big to send via email or post anywhere for free. Our zip compression and limited conversion capabilities didn't work either. That was an hour and half trying to figure out what to do with ten pages of text -- you can tell we aren't good at this.
But we can print it out and send it via regular mail, unless someone else can send scans to Yaboot.
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| Fulgour |
05 Sep 2004 |
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[font=papyrus] OPOTOIM [/font]
...which, not surprisingly, is mio topo backwards:
[font=papyrus] My Mouse! [/font]
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| Cerulean |
05 Sep 2004 |
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You have the card keywords in Italian on the cards, which are the same or similar to the Stella. As I am learning the Stella, I also check the previous decks by Tavaglione, as he combines many past designs in his later work. This should help in lieu of a LWB. Post questions for clarification--I tried to add explanation when appropriate. When it describes a diagram, please pull out card 4 to assist in understanding the description.
Hope it helps.
Page 2
The Enoil Gavat tarot deck is published jointly by Ace/Altenburger und Straisunder Spielkarten, Leinteiden, West Germany and Bi-Ass, Milan, Italy. Reproduction in any form is forbidden.
The card designs of he Enoil Gavat Tarot deck were prepared by Giorgio Tavaglione, an Italian artist whose work includes the Oracle or Sibyl deck, published in 1980 by Ace/Altenburger and Straisunder Spielkarten and Tavaglione Golden Stairs Tarot deck, published in 1980 by U.S. Games Systems, Inc.
All rights reserved
ISBN 0-913866-82-2
Page 3
History of Tarot Cards
The earliest documented information on the tarot goes back to the 15th century. Many researchers believe that the symbolism expressed in the images are connected to ancient mysteries and Egyptian initiation rites. The tarot is recognized as a complete code of hermetic alchemy. Its symbolism has always been referred to by schools of esoteric philosophy.
The symbols of the tarot, while evolving along with humankind, retain their validity after many centuries. The exoteric aspect of the deck, when enriched with ornamentation and gilding, was meant to exalt the greatness and power of the possessor. When its aspect was lessoned, the tarot deck was simple and rough. In this way, the cards were able to enter even the must humble places. The content of the deck and its meanings remains intact for great and small, rich and poor.
The Tarot Deck
The tarot deck is composed of 78 cards. The cards are divided into two groups, the Minor Arcana, comprised of 56 cards, and the Major Arcana, comprised of 22 cards. The Minor Arcana have four suits--batons, cups, swords and coins--each of which has a king, queen, cavalier and page (jack) along with ten card numbered 1 (through ) 10.
The Major Arcana cards are numbered 1-10 with an additional card numbered 0 (zero) called The Fool. The titles of the Major Arcana cards:
0 Il Matto (The Fool)
1. Il Mago (The Magus)
2. La Papessa (The Female Pope)
3. L'Imperatice (The Empress)
4. L'Imperatore (The Emporer)
5. Il Papa (The Pope)
6. L'Innamoato (The Lover)
7. Il Carro (The Chariot)
8. La Giutizia (Justices)
9. L'Eremita (The Hermit)
10. La Routa della Fortuna (The Wheel of Fortune)
11. La Forza (Strength)
12. L'Apesso (The Hanged Man)
Page 4
13. The card of Death is untitled
14. La Temperanza (Temperance)
15. Il Diavolo (The Devil)
16. La Torre (The Tower)
17. La Stella (The Star)
18. La Luna (The Moon)
19. Il Sole (The Sun)
20. Il Giudizio (Judgment)
21. Il Mondo (The World)
The multitude of combinations that the tarot cards can form make it possible for each reader to see his or her personal destiny or a specific answer to the question at hand.
There are four groups that pertain to the tarot
a. The four elements fire, water, air, earth
b. The three animals and the angel surrounding the wreathed woman on the World card: Lion, angel, eagle, bull.
c. The four seasons: spring, summer, autumn, winter.
d. The four suits of the tarot: batons (clubs), cups (hearts), swords (spades), coins (diamonds)
The inspiration of the tarot is symbolized by the alchemical processes of these minerals.
Mercury is the driving force of the individual
Salt is the stabilizing sphere of personality
Sulpher is expansive energy that burns within.
Major Arcana
The aspects and correspondences of the Major Arcana cards of the Enoil Gavat Tarot are diagrammed here.
(Instructions modified for clarity--example on picture is the L'Imperatore or number 4)
On the picture: top row of symbols corresponds to explanation notes 1, 2, 3
1. Symbolic representation of the numbers of the Major Arcana cards 1 through 9
Plus symbol on card number 4 on top left
2. The number of the tarot card 0 through 21 on the major arcana
Number 4 in middle of top of card
3. On the Major Arcana cards 11 through 21, the number that corresponds to the Hewbrew letter of the card. For example on card 17 La Stella (the Star), the Hebrew Letter pe equals 80.
Square on far right on card number 4
In the picture, the second row of symbols corresponds to notes 4, 5 and 6 below
4. Letter of the Hebrew alphabet that corresponds to the tarot card
Second row, looks like a 7 on card number 4
5. On cards 2-7, 12, and 21, the esoteric symbol that indicates the hidden meaning of the card
Second row, triangle with plus sign on card number 4 in the middle of the second row.
6. Letter of the Sanskrit alphabet that corresponds to the meaning and number of the card
Straight line that has under it a left curved hook sign ending on the right in the right side of second row in card number 4.
Page 5
Note 7 corresponds to the figure on the card.
7. The symbolic and emblematic image that gives the card its name and meaning. The picture is interpreted on
four levels:
a. The image of its most formal aspect, apparently firm, is earth.
b. The moral, which purifies us, is water
c. The allegory of the card, which abstracts us and relieve us from the card itself, is air.
d. The analogy that must inspire, penetrating and urging us to maximum perfection, is fire.
Fourth row of symbols corresponds to notes 8 and 9 below.
8. The symbol of the zodiac or planet that rules the card.
On card 4 it looks like a fancy four with a curved beginning stroke of the 4, lower left side of the card
9. Letter of the vulgar Latin alphabet corresponding to the Hebrew and Sanskrit Letters
On card 4 it looks like a fancy D on the lower right hand side
Fifth row of information on the card corresponds to notes 10, 11, 12
10. Traditional title that indicates the personage and symbolic image of the card
On card 4, this is L'Imperatore
11. Name of the sephirah that characterizes the kabbalistic significance of the card.
On card 4, it is Chesed
12.Indications concerning the card's positive or negative qualities, which, in interpretation, should be considered in context of surrounding cards.
Divinatory Meanings of the Major Arcana
Each Major Arcana card of the Enoil Gavat Tarot is described by the title, then by the Hebrew letter that corresponds to the card. On cards 1-10, its sephirah (place on the kabbalastic Tree of Life), a few essential words and finally, by the planetary influences over the card. The description here given in English corresponds to the interpretations appearing in Italian on the faces of the cards.
Part II follows
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| Cerulean |
05 Sep 2004 |
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Goes on from Page 6/7 with meanings
Page 8
The Minor Arcana
The four suits of the minor arcana have precise symbolism and correspondences
Batons
Fire hot and dry. Sulpher Yod Atailuth or archetypal world. Ascending pyramid. East, Spring, infancy, Lavante (east wind), first quarter of the moon. Musical note: ta, Color, red. Mathematical sign: addition. Line vertical. Endeavor and glory.
The suit of batons symbolizes energy, enterprise, activity, animation and invention. It indicates friendships that are cultivated for the sake of power. Batons is also the suit of the humble, modest people. It corresponds to the lion of 21 The World.
Cups
Water, hot and damp. Mercury He, Briah or creative world. Descending cosahedron North Summer, youth, Borea (North wind). Full moon. Musical note, re. Color: green. Mathematical sign subtraction. Line, horizontal. Love and goodness.
Cups symbolize happiness, love merriment, good health, joy and fertility. They indicate an open and emotional person, passionate and sentimental, profound and intelligent-precious lover with integrity. Cups correspond to the angel on 21, the World.
Swords
Air, cold and damp. Nitrogen, Vau, Yetzirah or formative world. Circular octahedron. West. Autumn, maturity, Zephyr (West wind), last quarter of the moon. Musical note: do. Color, blue. Mathematical sign, diversion. Line, horizontal and vertical. Hate and evil.
Swords symbolize courage, strength, noble pride and governmental and military authority. They indicate a person who is ambitious and aggressive, daring and unlucky, a lover of adventure, intrigue and extravagance who knows when to retreat or advance. Swords represent the eagle on 21, the World
(Cerulean's note: Page 8 has some of the coins description, I combined it below for clarity).
Page 9
Coins
Earth, cold and dry, salt, 2 degrees, He, Assiah or material world. Horizontal cube. South wind. New moon. Musical note, mi. Colors, black, maroon. Mathematical sign, multiplication. Line: horizontal and vertical line crossed inside circle. Money and interest.
Coins symbolize practicality, vitality, money, business, prestige, and questions about mundane and everyday matters. Coins represent the bull on 21, the World.
The Minor Arcana cars can be grouped according to the different forces that define humanity.
Physical body: Cavaliers, nines, eights, sevens
Life force: queens, sixes, fives and fours
Intellect: kings, threes, twos and aces
Sexuality: pages, tens
The traditional suit signs (clubs, hearts, spades, diamonds) that corresponds to the tarot suits are shown in the upper left corner of the Minor Arcana cards, 22 through 77, as it takes its place in the deck, is found. The upper right corner shows the number (1-10) or court sign (king, queen, cavalier and jack or page).
The fifty-six Minor Arcana cars of the Enoil Gavat tarot deck comprise cards numbered 22 through 77 as follows:
22-35 Batons (clubs), Kings through ace
36-49 Cups (hearts) king though ace
50-63 Swords (spades) king through ace
64-77 Coins (diamonds) king through ace
Page 9-10 minors in English
Back Design Note:
Opotoim means mio topio backward (my mouse) in Italian.
(Cerulean's note: this also appears on the Stella deck as a design motif next to a picture of Tavaglione).
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| Little Baron |
05 Sep 2004 |
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Cerulean
I can't thank you enough! That was very kind of you to type all of that up for me, and really helped me to understand the symbols on the deck. I am going to enjoy delving into it all a lot more.
Thanks very much for taking the time. Really appreciate it.
Yaboot
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| Little Baron |
07 Sep 2004 |
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My card for today is 'Cavalier di Denari'. At the bottom of this card is a grouping of symbols. I had wondered if the one to the left was either Waw or Zayin, but both look quite alike. Can anyone explain this grouping as I am a little stumped?
Yaboot
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| Little Baron |
07 Sep 2004 |
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Ok ... I am probably going to show myself up to be a complete donut here but ...
Why would this card be asigned the sign of Pisces?
Also, I read that Pisces is ruled by Neptune but this card is asigned the correspondance of Jupiter.
Any help would be great.
Yaboot
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| Cerulean |
07 Sep 2004 |
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by Papus assignments for astrology. While it did not originate with Papus, the listing that you can read here and the information gives you more information of how some esoteric thinkers assigned their belief of the Egyptian mysteries into their astrological assignment of tarot cards, as well. I believe that if you read the text page that I linked to, it will agree with your study of this card at least in terms of the astrology.
Giorgio Tavaglione was known as an esoteric scholar and designer (at least that is what I read in some of the short notes or credits of his various tarots). He combined so much even in his "simple" designs, it takes me a long time to sometimes just look at one segment of attributions--hopefully this will be helpful:
http://www.sacred-texts.com/tarot/tob/tob44.htm
When I get a little time, I'll check the knight of coins, if someone else does not.
Good luck on your continuing study and hope these bits and pieces help your delight in your treasure--you could compile your own 'workbook' on this and be learning some funny bits of historic tarot as well.
Cerulean
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| Little Baron |
07 Sep 2004 |
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Thanks again Cerulean.
Incase you didn't already see it, I posted a new thread called 'Tarot Symbols'. It has been like opening up a 'Pandora's Box', lol. As much as I find a lot of the information difficult to get a hold on, I am enjoying working with this deck and your help is much appreciated.
Best wishes
Yaboot
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The Please Help Me Unravel The Enoil Gavat thread was originally posted on 05 Sep 2004 in the Using Tarot Cards board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Using Tarot Cards, or read more archived threads.
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