Livia
This is in many ways the essential Hierophant. A figure that is obviously of a Roman Catholic influence. Who/What else could symbolize adherence to rules, spiritual structure, and the like. His crown isn’t exactly the traditional papal head gear. That would have three crowns, but it is very close (that crown is no longer used/worn by the Pope but it’s image still is used).
In a way the Catholic Church is about symbolism. Everything, to go along with the structure, and ceremony, they have a symbol for everything, and use these symbols heavily in their practice. While the Hierophant’s hat isn’t exactly that of the pope, it is Catholic, and has the pope’s (at least one of his) ensignia in the middle, the keys holding his cloak closed are a symbol of St. Peter, Jesus gave the keys to the kingdom to St. Peter, that is who founded the Catholic Church and that is where the Pope gets his (or hers for Pope Joan) authority (well the cliff notes version).
His enclosure in formal architecture adds to the feeling of formal structure. He is enclosed in a formal structure, a way of study, and devotion. People are coming to him for guidance.
for sources see
figure
http://gallery.euroweb.hu/html/s/simone/3assisi/transept/5saints1.html,
arch
http://www.kfki.hu/~arthp/html/g/ghirland/domenico/2s_fina/2obsequ.html
the decoration of the staff
http://www.kfki.hu/~arthp/html/s/simone/6annunci/a_virgin.html
this is pretty cool to see how it was transformed and included on the staff.
Keys
http://gallery.euroweb.hu/html/c/cossa/griffo_2.html
In a way the Catholic Church is about symbolism. Everything, to go along with the structure, and ceremony, they have a symbol for everything, and use these symbols heavily in their practice. While the Hierophant’s hat isn’t exactly that of the pope, it is Catholic, and has the pope’s (at least one of his) ensignia in the middle, the keys holding his cloak closed are a symbol of St. Peter, Jesus gave the keys to the kingdom to St. Peter, that is who founded the Catholic Church and that is where the Pope gets his (or hers for Pope Joan) authority (well the cliff notes version).
His enclosure in formal architecture adds to the feeling of formal structure. He is enclosed in a formal structure, a way of study, and devotion. People are coming to him for guidance.
for sources see
figure
http://gallery.euroweb.hu/html/s/simone/3assisi/transept/5saints1.html,
arch
http://www.kfki.hu/~arthp/html/g/ghirland/domenico/2s_fina/2obsequ.html
the decoration of the staff
http://www.kfki.hu/~arthp/html/s/simone/6annunci/a_virgin.html
this is pretty cool to see how it was transformed and included on the staff.
Keys
http://gallery.euroweb.hu/html/c/cossa/griffo_2.html