XVI - La Maison Diev

[Melanchollic]

Whatever- I think the image shows permanent destruction from what ever perspective.
~Rosanne

Certainly a 'do-able' perspective. If the image did evolve from the 'Harrowing of Hell' theme, then Christ, at the end of times, will permanently put the limbo and purgatory branches of the Devil's operation out of business.

I always get a giggle from the Geofroy image. It looks like that demon is hauling that poor gal off right in the middle of her violin recital. Now that's what I call good demoning! ~ ti hi hi hi..

 

[Bernice]

Hello Rosanne and Mel,

Very informative discussion here - thank you

Let me get this right. Limbo, Purgatory (and possibly other places) are areas of Hell.
The Tower shows a hellish-type of event or situation, therefore The Tower probably is:-

a) Sudden or unexpected change of life-experience with a loss of previous conditions.
b) Not a desirable place or position to be in.
c) Not an 'end' of life-experience. Something that has to be lived through....?

Bee

Later:

In all the images the Tower is made untenable (...spelled that right?).
However, it's interesting that only 2 of the Tower patterns show falling figures.

And this very early deck has no figures at all:

Mel: The so-called Gringonneur (1450? Handpainted) I believe this is the oldest known version of this trump - A stone tower whose walls are cracking while flames disintergrate the upper turrents. A possible hint of lightning. No figures. (Kaplan I, pp.115)

What, I wonder, does the burning Tower actually represent - with or without figures, lightening, or little balls?
I'm thinking that this 'burning' is maybe the crux of it's meaning.

Bee

 

[Melanchollic]

In all the images the Tower is made untenable (...spelled that right?).
However, it's interesting that only 2 of the Tower patterns show falling figures.

And this very early deck has no figures at all:


What, I wonder, does the burning Tower actually represent - with or without figures, lightening, or little balls?
I'm thinking that this 'burning' is maybe the crux of it's meaning.

Bee

Add to this the fact that the card was originally called 'Fire' and 'House of the Devil' (aka Hell), and we've got one hot topic!

 

[Bernice]

Mel: Add to this the fact that the card was originally called 'Fire' and 'House of the Devil' (aka Hell), and we've got one hot topic!

Agreed.
So......... I wonder why they depicted a Tower, not a 'house', 'castle', or other living acommadation. Is there anything specific about a Tower?

Also in the earlyist image (fire plus cracking walls), it seems to be an internal event....

And - this tickles me - if Hell is = fire, sulpher & brimstone. Then scientifically speaking, Heaven is hotter than Hell. (Chuckle).

Bee

 

[Bernice]

Mel: Add to this the fact that the card was originally called 'Fire' and 'House of the Devil' (aka Hell)

This card (Fire etc) was it numbered or in an obvious deck sequence?
Just wondering.........

Bee

 

[Melanchollic]

This card (Fire etc) was it numbered or in an obvious deck sequence?
Just wondering.........

Bee

Hi Bee,

All the known early orders place the 'Tower' after the 'Devil', and before the three celestial orbs.

As for numbering -

• Sermones de Ludo Cum Aliis - #15
  
• Dick Sheet - #14
  
• Pomeran - not numbered
  
• G. Bertoni - not numbered
  
• G. Susio - not numbered
  
• Garzoni - not numbered
  
• Geofroy - #16
  
• Vieville - #16
  
• Parisian - #16
  

 

[Paul]

This may have been intimated or explicated or otherwise elucidated (there were 12 pages in this thread, and it's late)...but, from an esoteric point of view, this image of "Christ" liberating souls from the "prison" of Hell certainly echoes the esoteric idea of the Christ or Higher/Holy Spirit liberating consciousness from the prison of the body, as possible while in the flesh.

This interpretation would not so much ignore the Medieval imagery as plain to see, but would be in tandem with coded hermetic layers of meaning in such "Christian" art, wherein a cigar is more than a cigar, if you catch my drift. Even if a layperson Christian would see this picture one way, an initiated person of the day might see another image, entirely.

 

[kwaw]

XVI. House of God

House of God

Your church, your synagogue, your mosque
stone by stone by 'righteous' passion rent,
dismembered to the cornerstone;
the blessed oil of its anointment
washed away with blood and curses.

Behold proud citizens of authenti-
City, our house of gods, our vain
idols of hateful self validity;
this ruin of thrown stones and corpses,
each stone a stone from our 'House of God'.​

 

[kwaw]

Deal:
He is a loose leaf book;
chance pages' mirror,
reflective of life in
all two dimensions,
his flesh and his blood are
pigment and paper,
cards shuffled each morning
and randomly cut.
Last week he was the Fool
four days on the trot
(his best trousers were torn
got bit by a dog),
Ten of Coins yesterday,
today: House of God.​

 

[kwaw]

Dictionary of Babel

Fetters of the Alphabet

SHush now and be quiet
listen...

finger tips and paper rustles
the purrrr of pages
flicking

setters point me to the word
hunting down the passing heard
migrating
now in
fetters

long chained by poets and abjured
debtors' interred
in brick
by brick
of letters

finger tips and paper rustles
the slurrr of sages
spitting

listen
dictionary of Babel
be quiet now and shuSH​