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The Hierophant (V), alternatively depicted asThe Pope orThe High Priest (as a counterpart to "The High Priestess") is the fifth card of theMajor Arcana in occultTarot decks used indivination. It was identified as thePope in early decks likeTarot of Marseilles, while modern decks likeRider–Waite Tarot may use the termhierophant (Ancient Greek:ἱεροφάντης), a person who brings religious congregants into the presence of that which is deemed "holy".[1]
In many modern packs, theHierophant is represented with his right hand raised in blessing or benediction, with two fingers pointing skyward and two pointing down, thus forming a bridge betweenHeaven andHell reminiscent of that formed by the body ofThe Hanged Man. The Hierophant is thus a true "pontiff", in that he is the builder of the bridge between deity and humanity. In his left hand he held atriple cross. His tiara has three nails projecting from it, symbolizing thecrucifixion of Jesus.[2] The Hierophant is typically male, even in decks that take a feminist view of the Tarot, such as theMotherpeace Tarot, The Hierophant was also known as "The Teacher of Wisdom".
In most iconographic depictions, the Hierophant is seen seated on a throne between two pillars symbolizingLaw andFreedom or obedience and disobedience, according to different interpretations. He wears apapal tiara, and thekeys to Heaven are at his feet. Sometimes he is shown with worshippers, as his alternate title is thePope or, sometimes,Jupiter.[3] These are often a pair oftonsured priests, who wear chasubles with both lily and roses motifs separately.[2] The card is also known as "The High Priest", as a counterpart to "The High Priestess" (which itself is also sometimes known as "The Papess", as counterpart to "The Pope").
The papacy was not just a religious force, but was a political and military force as well. When the tarot was invented, the Pope controlled a large portion of central Italy known as thePapal States.Renaissance culture did not question the abstract ideal of the Pope as God's human representative on Earth, but others involved in the religious Reformation of that Age would have disagreed. InTarot of Marseilles, he wears a red cape and a blue robe, in contrast to The Papess, who wears a blue cape and red robe.
In occult circles, the more commonly encountered modern name "Hierophant" is due toAntoine Court de Gébelin and was an attempt to dechristianise the standard French tarot pack, the Tarot de Marseilles, out of a mistaken belief of a pre-Christian origin.[4] According to de Gébelin, "hierophant" was the title of the chief priest in theEleusinian Mysteries (an ancient Greek ritual). However, historical evidence shows that tarot cards were invented in Northern Italy in the first half of the 15th century and not in ancient Egypt.[5]
The Hierophant stands for righteousness, sacredness, hierarchical order,[6] orthodoxy,[7] and moral righteousness. He is anexoteric figure, in contrast to the esoteric symbolism ofThe High Priestess.[2] Reversed, the Hierophant can be interpreted as standing for unorthodoxy, originality, and gullibility.[7]
According toA.E. Waite's 1910 bookPictorial Key to the Tarot, the Hierophant card carries several divinatory associations:
5. THE HIEROPHANT.--Marriage, alliance, captivity, servitude; by another account, mercy, and goodness; inspiration; the man to whom the Querent has recourse. Reversed: Society, good understanding, concord, over kindness, weakness.[8]
Inastrology, the Hierophant is associated with the feminine, fixed-earthsign ofTaurus and its ruling planet,Venus.[9]
Media related toPope (Major Arcana) at Wikimedia Commons
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