Huck wrote: ↑01 Sep 2014, 13:36
2 Postumio has a skull on a table.
A skull usually should mean "Death" ... the Italian Sola-Busca interpreter, fixed on number 13, interpreted, that Catone means Cato and Cato killed himself and therefore this should be "Death", but overlooked the small star in the upper right corner, and apparently overlooked the small signs, which have signifying character and were used more than once.
Aaah, MY ERROR ..... I'm wrong with it, I've to excuse. She noted the star and made the Footnote "121. II coloritore ha inserito nella carta la stella e il motto "TRAHOR FATIS", che non esistevano nella versione a stampa." ... which means, that the star was added by the illuminator together with the "TRAHOR FATIS", which shall mean "I am drawn by Fate" according Tarotpedia.
So the star was either "invented" by the illuminator, or the illuminator had additional information.
Even if added by the illustrator, it is still of interest I think to consider what signiifcance there is, if any, to the items on the shield, that is the star at the top of his shield, his name around its circumference, the motto at the bottom and a palm tree in the middle -:
The star above a palm tree makes me think of the Phoenix constellation, however as that Southern constellation wasn't named until the late 16th century it is too late :
The only other constellation I can think of that has any connection with a Palm tree is the constellation of Cassiopeia - who in some sources is said to be holding a palm frond in her hand ---
The palm tree was also the symbol of Judea, so the Star over Judea could have a biblical, christian meaning ---
The Magi/Astrologers saw a star shining over Judea, and were 'drawn by fate' or guided by the star to the land of Judea --
The Star over a palm [symbol of justice] is also the Coat of Arms for Montalboddo [la stella sopra una palma, simbolo della giustizia, Montalbotti] - however, I
think the star in this case may have been the star of David type (I haven't seen it, only read the description, so can't be sure) --
The wordplay between Postumio and Postumus (posthumous = after death), brings me back to the Phoenix, with its motto " 'Post fata resurgo", after death I rise (it was also used as a term of familiarity between friends writing or speaking to each other after a long time of silence) -- which in turn recalls the phrase for me of 'rise for judgement' on the CY -
SteveM
Re: the connection between the Phoenix and the Palm tree for those that may not know - it was said the the palm tree was named after the phoenix because the Phoenix was said to nest in the highest branches of the Palm tree (in Greek - το Φοίνιξ φωλιάζει σε φοίνικα - to Foínix foliázei se foínika: - Φοίνιξ = Phoenix, φοίνικα = palm tree): like the Phoenix, the palm (phoenika) is said to rise up again if it is burnt down