the ancient wisdom of the cards.
The oldest complete tarot deck we possess, and one of the only early decks to be fully illustrated.
It is by no means certain, but it has been alleged that the Sola Busca tarot deck was commissioned to honor Alfonso d'Este on the occasion of his wedding to Anna Sforza, granddaughter of Bianca Maria Visconti.
Italy, c.1491.
Military or physical prowess.
Loss due to betrayal.
The High Priestess, the Pope Joan, or Female Pontiff; early expositors have sought to term this card the Mother, or Pope's Wife, which is opposed to the symbolism. It is sometimes held to represent the Divine Law and the Gnosis, in which case the Priestess corresponds to the idea of the Shekinah. She is the Secret Tradition and the higher sense of the instituted Mysteries.
Science, Wisdom, Knowledge, Education
Conceit, Ignorance, Unskilfulness, Superficial Knowledge.
Female Inquirer.