Lady Iron Side
Every now and then, there is some intelligent discussion of the Minchiate here, but it always seems to peter out, presumably because these cards are so far out of the mainstream: this seems a pity, as the Minchiate Etruria, at least, is a deeply wonderful deck. (Sadly for me, full deck’s excellent Minchiate study group came and went before I acquired my copy.)
I’m posting a non-systematic, not altogether serious, list of things which have bothered, puzzled or amused me about the Minchiate Etruria over the last 6 months, avoiding the obvious differences from the familiar tarot pattern, in the hope that some of you might have specific information about one or two of them, and that others might be drawn to investigate these cards for themselves.
TRUMPS
I have a lurking suspicion that the Grand Duke and the Eastern Emperor are hermaphrodites: their heads seem to belong on each other’s bodies.
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a58/invbks/minchherms.jpg
What is the creature on the Air card? It’s obviously nourishing itself by drawing in breath.
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a58/invbks/minchair.jpg
Libra shows the hedgehog and the fox (well, the wolf and the porcupine ... ) along with the scales.
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a58/invbks/minchlib.jpg
There are ducks (seagulls?) bobbing around on the water on the Pisces and Scorpio cards – just to show that it IS water? – and why is Scorpio rising above the water, does this have some astrological significance?
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a58/invbks/minchducks.jpg
There’s a tortoise on Capricorn: or perhaps a turtle, because they’re both amphibians? And what is the significance of Capricorn’s crescent moon tipped staff (it looks as if it’s wandered in from the Thoth)?
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a58/invbks/minchcapr.jpg
There’s also a splendid wild pig on the Sagittarius card.
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a58/invbks/minchsag.jpg
And the Aquarius card is my favourite.
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a58/invbks/minchaq.jpg
WANDS.
2. Naked man with a palm branch (?) and ribbon/banner. Plus a wolf/fox and a crane like bird on either side of a lamp – does this illustrate a fable or motto?
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a58/invbks/minchwands.jpg
CUPS.
4. Ape with a mirror.
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a58/invbks/minchups.jpg
SWORDS
3. Romulus and Remus. There, I have identified the single most obvious card in the deck.
4. A bear (?) on a stool, apparently reading the paper. And a unicorn.
5. Chickens with a fox/wolf in a strange architectural box (when I first saw the card I thought it was meant to be a courtroom scene, with the fox in the dock). Is some fable or motto invoked here?
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a58/invbks/minchsw1.jpg
6. A glitter ball and a kitty. Have I mentioned that I really, really love this deck?
8. A monkeyish creature with satyr’s legs, looking either straight through a hoop or into a handleless mirror. Also a hedgehog and a mole staring at each other.
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a58/invbks/minchsw2.jpg
COINS
A. Two figures at an altar with smoke coiling up. One has a headdress, the other billowing robes.
4. An elephant. Why? Was there an elephant craze in the early 18th century?
9: Birds. All the others show heads.
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a58/invbks/minchcoins.jpg
Apologies in advance if some or all of these have been covered elsewhere in Aeclectic: put it down to my ineptness with the search feature. Felis
I have also noticed some other creatures/beasts that I would like to know more about
King of Coins ( what creature does his hand rest upon)
II Grand duke/Empress ( he/she rest hand on a weird pet, what creature is this? )
III Western Emperor ( some as above what is that creature ? Half bird half lion?
IMO the Knight of cups represents Prudence to some degree, the lions feet sorta throws off this theory a bit.
I am very curious as to the suit of coins, for on every card there are different faces of people of both genders, to me they look like kings, queen, emperors, ie: Caesar, Alexander the great, etc. would anyone know who some of this faces are?
I did find some others thread discussing a few of these cards, I do wish there was more discussion of them. I would really appreciate it.
here are the threads I have found so far
http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?t=149852
http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?t=137389&highlight=Minchiate