Diana
The title of this card has always intrigued me. Why call it a Maison-Dieu? (God’s House). A Maison-Dieu is the ancestor of our hospitals. Run by the Church and often attached to monasteries, they were used not only to house invalids and ill people, but also to shelter pilgrims and travellers on their journeys.
Today in France, there are still many hospitals called la Maison-Dieu, including one of the biggest hospitals in Paris.
From what I can figure out, they are rather ancient and the first ones were created in about the year 500 AD.
The translation of this word to “Tower” in English is a bit silly (understatement), in my opinion. A Maison-Dieu is not a tower at all. (This card has also historically been called “La Foudre”, i.e. Lightning – again nothing to do with Towers.)
So if the name refers to this ancestor of a hospital, or a hospice rather, then I am most confused as to the two figures falling out of it. (Of course, they could be insane and are jumping out thinking they will fly… - or alternatively, they have been locked up against their will and are escaping.)
Not only confused as to the two figures, but confused as to the significance of this name for this Major Arcanum.
Any help which could help clear up some of my confusion would be appreciated. I find nothing on this subject even in my French literature and Tarot books, nor on the web.
As to the spelling of “Dieu” as “Diev” – I suppose that is another cup of tea entirely.
Today in France, there are still many hospitals called la Maison-Dieu, including one of the biggest hospitals in Paris.
From what I can figure out, they are rather ancient and the first ones were created in about the year 500 AD.
The translation of this word to “Tower” in English is a bit silly (understatement), in my opinion. A Maison-Dieu is not a tower at all. (This card has also historically been called “La Foudre”, i.e. Lightning – again nothing to do with Towers.)
So if the name refers to this ancestor of a hospital, or a hospice rather, then I am most confused as to the two figures falling out of it. (Of course, they could be insane and are jumping out thinking they will fly… - or alternatively, they have been locked up against their will and are escaping.)
Not only confused as to the two figures, but confused as to the significance of this name for this Major Arcanum.
Any help which could help clear up some of my confusion would be appreciated. I find nothing on this subject even in my French literature and Tarot books, nor on the web.
As to the spelling of “Dieu” as “Diev” – I suppose that is another cup of tea entirely.