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    Lamed, the name of the Hebrew letter corresponding to this card, literally means “Ox-Goad.” This puts it in direct relationship with the card, The Fool, as Aleph means “Ox.” The Hebrew word אל means “God”. 

        It’s interesting to note that many of the renaissance versions of the card have Lady Justice blindfolded. This was left off in later versions until the Thoth Deck re-added it. 

    This is another one of the cards inspired by the four Cardinal Virtues. The earliest I’ve been able to find is a depiction on the tomb of Pope Clement II (died 1047):


Other versions include: 

Giotto's Seven Virtues - 1306 Abraham Bosse - 1636 Nicolaes de Bruyn - 1648-56

    The symbol of the balances has been used in religious iconography since antiquity. The most famous example arguably being “The Weighing of the Heart of Ani,” from the Egyptian Book of the Dead:

Papyrus of Ani - 1250 BCE





Thoth Deck Tarot of Ceremonial Magick Rider Waite B.O.T.A. Deck Papus Goulinat Deck Charles VI Deck Tarot of Marseilles Mantegna Deck Mantegna Deck Visconti Sforza

    Lamed, the name of the Hebrew letter corresponding to this card, literally means “Ox-Goad.” This puts it in direct relationship with the card, The Fool, as Aleph means “Ox.” The Hebrew word אל means “God”. 

        It’s interesting to note that many of the renaissance versions of the card have Lady Justice blindfolded. This was left off in later versions until the Thoth Deck re-added it. 

    This is another one of the cards inspired by the four Cardinal Virtues. The earliest I’ve been able to find is a depiction on the tomb of Pope Clement II (died 1047):


Other versions include: 

Giotto's Seven Virtues - 1306 Abraham Bosse - 1636 Nicolaes de Bruyn - 1648-56

    The symbol of the balances has been used in religious iconography since antiquity. The most famous example arguably being “The Weighing of the Heart of Ani,” from the Egyptian Book of the Dead:

Papyrus of Ani - 1250 BCE