The Chariot

From Tarot Apokalypsis by Ciro Marchetti:  The Chariot - The Roman Triumph Imperial cult and apotheosis of heroes! "Call my name in triumph, sing my praises in victory, give sacrifice only unto me, and I shall show you the mysteries of the triumphant road. I am winged apotheosis, pulling your soul from dirt into the shining heavens, there to place you an an immortal star, unconquered and unrivaled. I am the song of your name that lives long after the singer has gone, the rhyme of your deeds to last through the ages. I am the overcoming and the rising, the procession of the soul to greatness, and the achievement of your greatest ambitions. Know this: that the heavens were not created for the humble and mediocre and only greatness can ensure your immortality. What man is mortal whose name is remembered? What woman is not a goddess whose deeds are still spoken of? Yet do not mistake me: this is not the aggrandisement of the self alone, for this is the only service of the ego to the world. In your triumph you shall show to others the possibility of greatness, bringing into their reach the highest of goals: your virtue shall be enshrined in the holy words of the poets and inspire the journey to godhead of those who come long after you are gone. Victory, Imperator, and the mantle of the gods!"  

The Imperial cult, in which a ruler became deified and offering given to his genius (spirit), is a reminder of the ability of human beings to become divine. It is a quest for divinity and immortality through godhood that is represented by the Chariot, for it is the ultimate 'quest'. It found manifestation not only in Imperial cult of Rome but also in the hero cult of ancient Greece. Through these cults, the rulers of empires and men and women who performed great deeds were immortalised by their people and those who came after, given cult and petitioned as gods. The Chariot represents a journey and 'quest', but is also with our triumphs, achievements, and reputation, Thus, while the quest of this card can be a spiritual one, it can also be a quest for remembrance long after we have gone, a quest for greatness.  

The card image shows a great triumph, a parade during which the achievements of a general or war leader were showcased. The triumph displayed the details of the general's successful war or campaign on painted panels, as well as displaying the spoils of war and high ranking captive enemies. A great number of rulers and generals had triumphs, with some celebrating several. These triumphs were so grandiose and influential that they provided a model for the celebration of military success for centuries. Through the last two millennia, there has hardly been a monarch, dynast, or autocrat in the West who has not looked back to ancient Rome for a lesson in how to mark victory and to assert personal power. The motif of the Roman Triumph acts as a reminder beyond death; it is also a symbol of the investiture of value in the ego and the concept of self, as well as its glorification, all of which can be found in the meaning of this card. 

The figure of Victory stands behind the lauded general in the Triumph, holding aloft the laurel wreath of victory and divinity. It was Victoria, the Roman goddess of victory, who bequeathed success in war. She was particularly favoured in Rome and had several temples, appearing frequently on Roman coins, often on those commemorating successful war leaders! 

What should not be forgotten is the place that this card falls within the Major Arcana, that much learning and experience needs to take place before it, and much learning and experience will take place after it to create a well-formed life path.   

Wendy Stokes https://wendystokes.co.uk