The Twilight Of The Gods Tarot 2nd Edition

Artist(s) : Janka Latečková ; Author(s) : JS Moore, M.S. Edwards
Publisher : Understanding Apples

Add To Cart

Item Number: 11902
Details:
Many years ago I was first inspired to produce a tarot set about the site once known as The Oracle of Delphi and the chiseled stone found there which were the very foundations of Greek morals and creed. These Maxims or words to live by were carved upon the marble columns, lintels walls and hallways throughout the site known as Delphi. A path called the Sacred Way led up to the most famous structure there called the Tholos, which was a circular building with a conical roof supported by a ring of outer columns. My first recollection about this legendary place came from reading the surviving plays of Oedipus by Sophocles. My theater professor Dr. Robertson at East Tennessee State University encouraged discussion in his classroom and I wanted to know more about how the prophesy came to be that Oedipus would slay his own father Laius and marry his own mother, Jocasta. Antigone was a product of this union. But this search, of course, led me to the Oracle of Delphi. One of the initial scenes from the graphic novel The 300 from Frank Miller has the Spartan king Leonides consult with the Ephors and the Oracle or Pythia there but it is no easy task to even get to the place to find them. The Ephors must first be bribed before the oligarch is granted passage into the mystic pythoness’ or chamber of the “High” Priestess. The movie made from this graphic novel gives a stunning visual of what it may have been like. The Oracle was paramount in all Greek society. Its ethical system was revered and honored as law. Over the years the temple had been desecrated, its statues stolen by the Romans and finally in 385 the Roman emperor Emperor Theododius closed the temple permanently. A place which still exists today and can be visited, although its preservation came too late, the Oracle of Delphi offered the sacred commandments of the Greeks.

Apollo is credited as its patron deity, but most likely worshippers of Gaia (Earth) predated the occupation of the sun god. This theory is worthy of exploration.

It is important to note the Maxims were not law like the commandments of Moses, but they were considered guidelines to live by whenever possible.

The Complete Ethical System or The Delphic Maxims

001. Ἕπου θεῷ Follow God
002. Νόμῳ πείθου Obey the law
003. Θεοὺς σέβου Respect the Gods
004. Γονεῖς αἰδοῦ Respect your parents
005. Ἡττῶ ὑπὸ δικαίου Be ruled by justice
006. Γνῶθι μαθών Know by learning
007. Ἀκούσας νόει Listen and understand
008. Σαυτὸν ἴσθι Know yourself
009. Γαμεῖν μέλλε Set out to be married
010. Καιρὸν γνῶθι Know your opportunity
011. Φρόνει θνητά Think mortal thoughts
012. Ξένος ὢν ἴσθι Know when you are an outsider
013. Ἑστίαν τίμα Honour the hearth
014. Ἄρχε σεαυτοῦ Be in control of yourself
015. Φίλοις βοήθει Help your friends
016. Θυμοῦ κράτει Control your temper
017. Φρόνησιν ἄσκει Exercise prudence
018. Πρόνοιαν τίμα Honour forethought
019. Ὅρκῳ μὴ χρῶ Do not use an oath
020. Φιλίαν ἀγάπα Embrace friendship
021. Παιδείας ἀντέχου Cling to education
022. Δόξαν δίωκε Pursue honour
023. Σοφίαν ζήλου Be eager for wisdom
024. Καλὸν εὖ λέγε Praise the good
025. Ψέγε μηδένα Find fault with no one
026. Ἐπαίνει ἀρετήν Praise virtue
027. Πρᾶττε δίκαια Practice what is just
028. Φίλοις εὐνόει Show favour to your friends
029. Ἐχθροὺς ἀμύνου Ward off your enemies
030. Εὐγένειαν ἄσκει Exercise nobility of character
031. Κακίας ἀπέχου Shun evil
032. Κοινὸς γίνου Be impartial
033. Ἴδια φύλαττε Guard what is yours
034. Ἀλλοτρίων ἀπέχου Shun what belongs to others
035. Ἄκουε πάντα Listen to everything
036. Εὔφημος ἴσθι Be fair of speech
037. Φίλῳ χαρίζου Look after your own
038. Μηδὲν ἄγαν Nothing in excess
039. Χρόνου φείδου Save time
040. Ὅρα τὸ μέλλον Look to the future
041. Ὕβριν μίσει Despise insolence
042. Ἱκέτας αἰδοῦ Have respect for suppliants
043. Πᾶσιν ἁρμόζου Be accommodating to all
044. Υἱοὺς παίδευε Educate your sons
045. Ἔχων χαρίζου If you have, give
046. Δόλον φοβοῦ Fear deceit
047. Εὐλόγει πάντας Speak well of everyone
048. Φιλόσοφος γίνου Be a seeker of wisdom
049. Ὅσια κρῖνε Choose what is holy
050. Γνοὺς πρᾶττε Act from knowledge
051. Φόνου ἀπέχου Shun murder
052. Εὔχου δυνατά Pray for what is possible
053. Σοφοῖς χρῶ Consult the wise
054. Ἦθος δοκίμαζε Test your character
055. Λαβὼν ἀπόδος If you have received, give back
056. Ὑφορῶ μηδένα Look down on none
057. Τέχνῃ χρῶ Make use of expertise
058. Ὃ μέλλεις, δός Give what you aim to give
059. Εὐεργεσίας τίμα Honour generosity
060. Φθόνει μηδενί Envy no one
061. Φυλακῇ πρόσεχε Be on your guard
062. Ἐλπίδα αἴνει Praise hope
063. Διαβολὴν μίσει Despise slander
064. Δικαίως κτῶ Gain possessions justly
065. Ἀγαθοὺς τίμα Honour good people
066. Κριτὴν γνῶθι Know who is the judge
067. Γάμους κράτει Control your marriages
068. Τύχην νόμιζε Recognize fortune
069. Ἐγγύην φεῦγε Don't make risky promises
070. Ἁπλῶς διαλέγου Speak plainly
071. Ὁμοίοις χρῶ Associate with likeminded people
072. Δαπανῶν ἄρχου Control your expenditure
073. Κτώμενος ἥδου Be happy with what you have
074. Αἰσχύνην σέβου Revere a sense of shame
075. Χάριν ἐκτέλει Repay favours
076. Εὐτυχίαν εὔχου Pray for success
077. Τύχην στέργε Embrace your fate
078. Ἀκούων ὅρα Listen and observe
079. Ἐργάζου κτητά Work for what you can own
080. Ἔριν μίσει Despise strife
081. Ὄνειδος ἔχθαιρε Detest disgrace
082. Γλῶτταν ἴσχε Restrain your tongue
083. Ὕβριν ἀμύνου Shun violence
084. Κρῖνε δίκαια Make just judgements
085. Χρῶ χρήμασιν Use what you have
086. Ἀδωροδόκητος δίκαζε Judge incorruptibly
087. Αἰτιῶ παρόντα Make accusations face to face
088. Λέγε εἰδώς Speak from knowledge
089. Βίας μὴ ἔχου Have no truck with violence
090. Ἀλύπως βίου Live free of sorrow
091. Ὁμίλει πρᾴως Have kindly interactions
092. Πέρας ἐπιτέλει μὴ ἀποδειλιῶν Complete the race and don't chicken out
093. Φιλοφρόνει πᾶσιν Deal kindly with everyone
094. Υἱοῖς μὴ καταρῶ Do not curse your sons
095. Γυναικὸς ἄρχε Control your wife
096. Σεαυτὸν εὖ ποίει Benefit yourself
097. Εὐπροσήγορος γίνου Be courteous
098. Ἀποκρίνου ἐν καιρῷ Respond in a timely manner
099. Πόνει μετ’ εὐκλείας Struggle for glory
100. Πρᾶττε ἀμετανοήτως Act decisively
101. Ἁμαρτάνων μετανόει Repent of your errors
102. Ὀφθαλμοῦ κράτει Control your eye
103. Βουλεύου χρόνῳ Give timely counsel
104. Πρᾶττε συντόμως Act without hesitation
105. Φιλίαν φύλαττε Guard friendship
106. Εὐγνώμων γίνου Be grateful
107. Ὁμόνοιαν δίωκε Pursue harmony
108. Ἄρρητον κρύπτε Keep secret what should be secret
109. Τὸ κρατοῦν φοβοῦ Fear what rules
110. Τὸ συμφέρον θηρῶ Pursue what is profitable
111. Καιρὸν προσδέχου Accept due measure
112. Ἔχθρας διάλυε Dissolve enmities
113. Γῆρας προσδέχου Accept old age
114. Ἐπὶ ῥώμῃ μὴ καυχῶ Do not boast about power
115. Εὐφημίαν ἄσκει Exercise (religious) silence
116. Ἀπέχθειαν φεῦγε Shun hatred
117. Πλούτει δικαίως Acquire wealth justly
118. Δόξαν μὴ λεῖπε Do not abandon honour
119. Κακίαν μίσει Despise evil
120. Κινδύνευε φρονίμως Take sensible risks
121. Μανθάνων μὴ κάμνε Never tire of learning
122. Φειδόμενος μὴ λεῖπε Never cease being thrifty
123. Χρησμοὺς θαύμαζε Admire oracles
124. Οὓς τρέφεις, ἀγάπα Love those whom you rear
125. Ἀπόντι μὴ μάχου Do not fight an absent foe
126. Πρεσβύτερον αἰδοῦ Respect the old
127. Νεώτερον δίδασκε Instruct the young
128. Πλούτῳ ἀπίστει Do not put your trust in wealth
129. Σεαυτὸν αἰδοῦ Respect yourself
130. Μὴ ἄρχε ὑβρίζειν Do not initiate violence
131. Προγόνους στεφάνου Crown your ancestors
132. Θνῆσκε ὑπὲρ πατρίδος Die for your country
133. Τῷ βίῳ μὴ ἄχθου Do not live your life in discontent
134. Ἐπὶ νεκρῷ μὴ γέλα Do not make fun of the dead
135. Ἀτυχοῦντι συνάχθου Share the load of the unfortunate
136. Χαρίζου ἀβλαβῶς Gratify without harming
137. Μὴ ἐπὶ παντὶ λυποῦ Have no grief
138. Ἐξ εὐγενῶν γέννα Beget good from good
139. Ἐπαγγέλλου μηδενί Make promises to none
140. Φθιμένους μὴ ἀδίκει Do not wrong the dead
141. Εὖ πάσχε ὡς θνητός Do as well as your mortal status permits
142. Τύχῃ μὴ πίστευε Do not put your trust in chance
143. Παῖς ὢν κόσμιος ἴσθι As a child be well-behaved
144. Ἡβῶν ἐγκρατής As a youth be self-disciplined
145. Μέσος δίκαιος As a middle-aged person be honest
146. Πρεσβύτης εὔλογος As an old man be sensible
147. Τελευτῶν ἄλυπος At your end be without sorrow

These Maxims fit Tarot with ease.

The Twilight of the Gods, also know as Ragnorak has to do with the end of days for the Norse deities in their final battle with the Frost Giants. Each suit of cards pull from a different variant of deities from different pantheons of gods.

The Wands suit is Norse themed with Odin, Frigga, Thor, etc.

The Pentacles are Egyptian gods like Osiris, Isis, Horus, and Hathor.

The cups suit is based upon Slavic legends like Vlad Dracul (King of Cups), The White Lady, and Dazhbog.

And the Swords suit comes from the Irish myths of the Tuatha De Danaan with Nuada, Morrigan, Lugh, etc.

The Greeks are largely covered in the Major Arcana from Pan, Demeter, Poseidon, Themis and Pandora - among others.

Each deck comes with 100+ page accompanying guidebook by JS Moore and M.S. Edwards. Cards will be oversized with wine dark gilded edges unique to this limited released deck.

Country of Origin: USA
Volume/Weight/Size: 99 cards, 3.5" x 5"
Price: $680 HKD
VIP Member Price: $612 HKD
[How to become a VIP]