Roses & Lilies in the Lo Scarabeo Tarot

I just received this deck yesterday and one thing immediately drew my attention. The Rose and Lilie appear several times side by side in the deck, like in the Ace of Pentacles, 3 of pentacles, 5 of pentacles, 7 of pentacles, queen of pentacles, Hierophant, World and yes, I think the Star also has a reference to the two flowers. It immediately made me think of the Roses & Lilies on the back of the "original RWS" and some of the early Pam-A versions.

Anyone have any idea on these? Are they little tributes to the RWS integrated this way or do the Rose and the Lilie have some other esoterical meaning too?

I noticed this as well. Also, the young man in the 4 of Swords is holding a rose in his left hand and a lily in his right. However, on the Star it is actually a white lotus instead of a white lily. I thought it was a lily at first too.

That said, I have no idea what it means. I'm just pretty sure it means SOMETHING.

I'm not sure why they're there either. They remind me of the roses and lilies in the RWS Magician card.

We really need a book for this one....

They're there to represent opposites.

Roses are red, passionate, sexy, concerned with the real world whilst lillies are white, pure, spiritual.

It's a little like yin and yang or the two pillars that appear on many cards, one black, one white.

The Universe is full of opposites and so is The Tarot.

Thanks. That does make sense. I still think there is also a relation to the RWS with the Roses and Lilies. But you are right, there are many opposites symbols in the deck. And it is kinda interesting that the Rose and Lilie mostly appear in the Pentacles... meaning wordly issues.

http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?t=26595

truelighth said:

I still think there is also a relation to the RWS with the Roses and Lilies

Click to expand...

Yes I think there is but isn't this deck meant to blend the symbolism and styles of the thee main tarot traditions, the Tarot de Marseille, The Thoth and The Rider-Waite-Smith?
I think that the lillies and roses are also in the RWS tarot to show the opposing forces of the Universe, the passion and the purity.
The Tarot de Marseille pip cards have flowers that look an awful lot like roses and lillies too:
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r298/tarotsulis/5deCoupes.jpg
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r298/tarotsulis/4dEpee.jpg
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r298/tarotsulis/2deBatons.jpg