Design of the Deck
The cards of this deck do not use the standard symbolism common to the Rider-Waite-Smith and to the many decks modeled after it, but these cards do share their meanings. Each card takes the traditional Rider-Waite-Smith interpretation and expresses that meaning through a character from Greek mythology whose essence or story or personality at their core matches the card best. Almost all beings of geek lore will have countless versions and variations of their stories, and most will have many stories in which they appear; but the moments representing them on these cards – I believe – encapsulate each of their overarching themes and archetypal presence that resonates through all of their tales.
All of the cards of the Major Arcana depict Theoi – the gods and goddesses of the Greek tradition, while for the most part the four suits all feature heroes and heroines, with the Court Cards (Princess, Knight, Queen, and King) all showing persons important in the cycle of myths surrounding the Trojan War. The cards of each suit that are not of mortals are the Aces and Threes (Triads).
The Ace cards depict various Protogenoi, these are primordial first born beings that existed at the dawn of time, they are the very fabric of the cosmos itself – Gaia is not so much as the goddess of the earth as she is the very Earth Itself, Aether is the pure upper air of the heavens, Hemera is Day itself and Eros is the force of Love that binds together all things. The Triad cards each show a set of three goddesses such as the three Fates or the three Graces. Lastly, the Pair cards each depict a set of male heroes who are inextricably linked together in myth and legend.
