Tarot Symbolism (was: Re: destroying Horcruxes ...)

dicconf@xxxxxxxxx (Richard Eney) wrote:

> Each horcrux will be different, and each will have some point
> of similarity. I just reread JKR's interview after HBP came
> out, in which she says that she thought of the four Houses as
> each having a strong point with one of the classical four
> elements: Gryffindor is fire, Ravenclaw is air, Hufflepuff is
> earth and Slytherin is water. So the Slytherin connection is
> to liquids. We've seen that with potions, with the Slytherin
> common room being underneath the lake, and so on.

Interesting that you bring this up. We know of course that the
Tarot deck has figured prominently in the Potterverse:
Divination, "The Lightning-Struck Tower, &c.

So far the Images of the Major Arcana have been mentioned but
we must also look at the other cards - the Minor Arcana.

Today's deck of cards has the four suits of Spades, Hearts,
Clubs and Diamonds, but these as merely modern euphemisms for the
original suits.

The Spade was a Sword, representing the element of Fire (thus
Gryffendors sword.)

The Club was a Spear or more commonly a Wand (representing
Air.)

The Diamond was a Coin, or Platter (representing the Earth,
and by extension the wealth it contained.) The name 'Pluto' whose
realm is beneath the Earth, literally means the "Rich Guy."

The Heart was a Cup (or by some extensions a Grail)
representing water, and by extension, blood.

Here I must disagree with the assignment of the Element of
water to the House of Slytherin. We know that The Gryffendor
relic is a Sword, and that the Hufflepuff relic is a Cup. As the
Slytherin relic is a Round Gold Locket, I believe that this is as
close to a Coin as one could hope, both in shape and in value.

The Slytherins Halls are underground, lake notwithstanding.

This leaves only the Ravenclaw Relic, as to which I would
hazard a guess: it is a Wand.
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Wayne B. Hewitt Encinitas, CA whewitt@xxxxxxxx
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