Cartomancer
Who is Strength?
The constellation Hercules portrays the Strength card of the Tarot.
Hercules is seen wrestling with the Nemean Lion.
There are many articles, stories, and movies about Hercules.
Ross Caldwell has written an impressive article about Hercules:
"Hercules and the Iconography of the Visconti-Sforza Triumph of Force"
http://www.trionfi.com/0/i/r/11.html
I add my quote here about Ross Caldwell's article connecting Hercules and the Strength card:
"It is evident that Ross Caldwell does indeed have a perfect match between the Strength card and and the legendary hero Hercules." - Cartomancer
"We have a perfect match." - Ross Caldwell says in conclusion about the connection between the Strength card and Hercules.
http://www.tarotforum.net/showpost.php?p=3996640&postcount=2
"The Visconti-Sforza tarocchi is based on certain constellations in the original design, in my opinion, and is also the basis of the Tarot trump design for many later decks. The constellation Hercules became a unique portrayal of the Strength card because this family wanted to have their likeness placed in the stars and so relatives were portrayed as constellations. Franscesco Sforza's son Galeazzo Maria was likely portrayed as Hercules. Other early decks that portray Fortitude as Strength are not based on the earliest Tarot trumps, because of the unique depiction of Hercules with a club in the Visconti-Sforza tarocchi."
- Cartomancer (Lance Carter)
This article might read differently if Hercules the constellation is described, not the general Hercules myth. The many pictures of Hercules in star maps gives support to the thesis that Strength represents the constellation Hercules. A focus on ancient astronomy and cartography would help balance the astrological considerations. - Cartomancer
There may have been a book of common constellations with pictures before the Tarot trumps were drawn since each of the trumps pictures a constellation no matter what else people see in those trump cards. There are clues that there was a list of constellations before there was this group of trump constellations that became the Tarot trump cards. - Cartomancer
"Rather it may be that the image is a visual synecdoche, a representation of all that Hercules means in general." - Ross Caldwell
Rather it may be copied from a drawing of the constellation Hercules, which is based on stricter rules than art alone, meaning that Hercules must be in a kneeling position and the labor that can be pictured in that position is the killing of the Nemean Lion by holding its neck. - Cartomancer
Additional links to stories about Hercules.
http://www.theoi.com/Text/SenecaHerculesFurens.html
http://www.theoi.com/Text/SenecaHerculesFurens2.html
http://www.theoi.com/Text/SenecaHerculesOetaeus.html
http://www.theoi.com/Text/SenecaHerculesOetaeus2.html
Hercules (constellation)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hercules_(constellation)
Hercules Constellation
http://www.constellation-guide.com/constellation-list/hercules-constellation/
Hercules the Kneeling Man
http://www.constellationsofwords.com/Constellations/Hercules.html
Many other illustrations of Hercules are at:
http://www.atlascoelestis.com/acquista.htm
Search for: "Hercules constellation images"
The constellation Hercules is portrayed by the Strength card in the Tarot.
- Cartomancer (Lance Carter)
The constellation Hercules portrays the Strength card of the Tarot.
Hercules is seen wrestling with the Nemean Lion.
There are many articles, stories, and movies about Hercules.
Ross Caldwell has written an impressive article about Hercules:
"Hercules and the Iconography of the Visconti-Sforza Triumph of Force"
http://www.trionfi.com/0/i/r/11.html
I add my quote here about Ross Caldwell's article connecting Hercules and the Strength card:
"It is evident that Ross Caldwell does indeed have a perfect match between the Strength card and and the legendary hero Hercules." - Cartomancer
"We have a perfect match." - Ross Caldwell says in conclusion about the connection between the Strength card and Hercules.
http://www.tarotforum.net/showpost.php?p=3996640&postcount=2
"The Visconti-Sforza tarocchi is based on certain constellations in the original design, in my opinion, and is also the basis of the Tarot trump design for many later decks. The constellation Hercules became a unique portrayal of the Strength card because this family wanted to have their likeness placed in the stars and so relatives were portrayed as constellations. Franscesco Sforza's son Galeazzo Maria was likely portrayed as Hercules. Other early decks that portray Fortitude as Strength are not based on the earliest Tarot trumps, because of the unique depiction of Hercules with a club in the Visconti-Sforza tarocchi."
- Cartomancer (Lance Carter)
This article might read differently if Hercules the constellation is described, not the general Hercules myth. The many pictures of Hercules in star maps gives support to the thesis that Strength represents the constellation Hercules. A focus on ancient astronomy and cartography would help balance the astrological considerations. - Cartomancer
There may have been a book of common constellations with pictures before the Tarot trumps were drawn since each of the trumps pictures a constellation no matter what else people see in those trump cards. There are clues that there was a list of constellations before there was this group of trump constellations that became the Tarot trump cards. - Cartomancer
"Rather it may be that the image is a visual synecdoche, a representation of all that Hercules means in general." - Ross Caldwell
Rather it may be copied from a drawing of the constellation Hercules, which is based on stricter rules than art alone, meaning that Hercules must be in a kneeling position and the labor that can be pictured in that position is the killing of the Nemean Lion by holding its neck. - Cartomancer
Additional links to stories about Hercules.
http://www.theoi.com/Text/SenecaHerculesFurens.html
http://www.theoi.com/Text/SenecaHerculesFurens2.html
http://www.theoi.com/Text/SenecaHerculesOetaeus.html
http://www.theoi.com/Text/SenecaHerculesOetaeus2.html
Hercules (constellation)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hercules_(constellation)
Hercules Constellation
http://www.constellation-guide.com/constellation-list/hercules-constellation/
Hercules the Kneeling Man
http://www.constellationsofwords.com/Constellations/Hercules.html
Many other illustrations of Hercules are at:
http://www.atlascoelestis.com/acquista.htm
Search for: "Hercules constellation images"
The constellation Hercules is portrayed by the Strength card in the Tarot.
- Cartomancer (Lance Carter)