Falcon Head

Does anyone know what the falcon head on the Fool's satchel represents? Robert Place, in his book "The Tarot: History, Symbolism and Divination" mentions the Egyptian God Horus, but doesn't give any other details.

Bodhran

great topic

I've always associated it with an eagle...

Thanks for posting the picture Fulgour. If the falcon head (if it IS a falcon and not an eagle!) is seen as Horus, perhaps it symbolizes protection or regeneration. If it is just a falcon, maybe it represents a hunter/seeker or clarity (because of its ability to fly above the earth). Any thoughts from anyone else?

Bodhran

falcon head

I have always thought it to be a falcon. Symbolyzing the lack of self-control the Fool possesses. He hasn't learned to control his impulses yet, so maybe he's using the 'future hood' for a pouch. A hooded falcon is how it is kept under command... Hh

The Tumbler

The Magician is Le Bateleur in the Marseille and
in my Encyclopaedia Britannica under "Bateleur"
there is a reference to an African Hawk, named
for its unique tumbling dive...perhaps a clue?

Horace, if you're right about the hood, perhaps there is a tie-in with the Nine of Pentacles card where there is a hooded falcon (and often a reference to the woman having her thoughts/instincts under control). If this is the case, it is interesting that the head is on the bag, which is where his future "tools" to help him on his spiritual journey are hidden.
Fulgour, thanks for sharing the information about Le Bateleur and the hawk. Having seen many hawks in my neck of the woods drop like a stone from the sky (going after some lunch), it does indeed make me think of the "dive" the Fool is about to make from the cliff!

Bodhran

In the Pictorial Key, Waite says "a wallet curiously embroidered." This tells us the satchel is supposed to be a wallet. The wallet is associated with Hermes, messenger of the Gods. It is difficult to make out exactly what type of bird this is, but I believe it must be an Eagle or Hawk, both being swift and high-flying, which would reinforce the Hermes symbolism.

Thanks Abrac for the quote from Waite. I wonder why he called it a wallet when it doesn't look like one? Or perhaps the language was just different then? Too bad Pamela Coleman Smith didn't write a book about the symbolism in the pictures she created...

Bodhran

bodhran said:

I wonder why he called it a wallet when it doesn't look like one? Or perhaps the language was just different then?

Click to expand...

Yes, it looks more like what we would call a purse. The term *wallet* was origianlly used to describe a traveller's bag which would have held money possibly, along with other items.

Waite does use a lot of archaic terminology which makes reading him very frustrating if you aren't familiar with it (like me).

Fulgour said:

The Magician is Le Bateleur in the Marseille and
in my Encyclopaedia Britannica under "Bateleur"
there is a reference to an African Hawk, named
for its unique tumbling dive...perhaps a clue?

Click to expand...

i wonder if its the spirits descent into matter..