Iconographic Syncretism in the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot: A Comparative Analysis of Classical Mythology, Judeo-Christian Theology, and Western Literary Traditions
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) 2023 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.19599600 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that the Rider-Waite-Smith Major Arcana functions as an intertextual bridge between Western esotericism and academic humanities, synthesizing Classical mythology, Judeo-Christian scripture, and Western literature and history into a structured visual framework for moral philosophy, tragic balance, and heroic narrative. |
Abstract
Description Title: Iconographic Syncretism in the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot: A Comparative Analysis of Classical Mythology, Judeo-Christian Theology, and Western Literary Traditions Summary: This research paper provides a multi-disciplinary iconographic analysis of the 22 Major Arcana cards within the Rider-Waite-Smith (RWS) Tarot deck. Positioning the deck as a "living museum" of Western intellectual history, the study explores the complex syncretic links between Pamela Colman Smith’s 1909 illustrations and the foundational texts of the Western canon. By deconstructing the visual rhetoric of the cards, the author identifies a sophisticated synthesis of: Classical Mythology: Including the Eleusinian Mysteries, the Herculean Labors, and Ovidian tragedy. Judeo-Christian Scripture: Tracing narratives from Genesis through to the Johannine Apocalypse. Western Literature and History: Analyzing the influence of the Poetic Edda, the Wars of the Roses, and Shakespearean historiography. Moving beyond traditional divinatory interpretations, this paper argues that the RWS Major Arcana serves as an intertextual bridge between Western esotericism and formal academic humanities. It offers a structured framework for understanding the evolution of moral philosophy, tragic balance, and heroic narrative through visual media. Keywords: Iconography, Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot, Comparative Religion, Western Esotericism, Mythography, Intertextuality, Pamela Colman Smith, A.E. Waite.