The Story of the
Tarot Cards

Results of a longer discussion

FORTEZA - that is FORTITUDO - The cardinal virtue of the soul fights against Timor (Fear) with the vigour of a lion. The broken column is a standard symbol. The virtue was earlier often associated to the biblical Samson, who killed a lion and broke a palace, when blinded. In the development all virtues became female. In the Mantegna lion symbolism and column are united - a relative seldom feature. This is a normal card inside the 22-Trionfi-deck, in the Pierpont-Morgan-Bergamo deck the protagonist is male (Hercules), presented without column.

Tarot Museum
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