The Myth of Alexander in the TAROT SOLA BUSCA

Alexander III of Macedonia (20/21 of July 356 BC - June 10, 323 BC), known as Alexander the Great was King Basileus of the Ancient Greek Kingdom of Macedonia and a member of the Argéada dynasty. Born in Pela in 356 BC, the young prince succeeded his father, King Philip II, to the throne at the age of twenty. He spent most of his years in power in a series of unprecedented military campaigns across Asia and northeastern Africa, once he reach the age of thirty years old he had created one of the greatest empires of the ancient world that stretched from Greece to Egypt and to the northwest of India. He died undefeated in battles and is considered one of the most successful military commanders in history.

In terms of his origins there have been many myths surrounding it. From his mother, Olympias, who was the daughter of Neoptolemus I, he inherited his lineage to Achilles. From his father, King Philip II of Macedonia, he claimed an ancestry that descended from the legendary Heracles himself. Furthermore Olympias was said to have confided to Alexander that he was the son of the god Zeus Ammon, who had visited her in her sleep one night and begot Alexander. And maybe that is why he worked so hard to cross the desert years later to visit the Oracle of Ammon at Siwa. This action in the desert was, and still is considered as one of the most fascinating events of his reign.

ALEXANDER AND HIS HORSE BUCEPHALUS

Well… There is a very serious reason for this buzz surrounding his sacred origin. And this reason is related to God. God is the energy that sustains the Universe, He is that magnetic point of force, the light that is located exactly at the center of the Universe and pulls all the galaxies and all its stars to itself. In this way, as everything converges to it, both stars and humans and any other beings that might exist, must inevitably feel within this magnetic force drawing them back to this central point. And because man carries within himself a spark of this divinity, he has the need for it and wishes to return to it. That is why the Myth was created.

Myth is a traditional typically ancient story dealing with supernatural beings, ancestors, or heroes that serves as a fundamental type in the worldview of people, as by explaining aspects of the natural world or delineating the psychology, customs, or ideals of society. Therefore explaining things science could not have explained in those times, Myth also served to link Men to the Divine. The Demi-God Myths served to give Men the hope of the immortality through this divine lineage.

An old Greek popular saying emphasizes this: “What are the Gods? Immortal Men; and what are the Men? Mortal Gods.”

ALEXANDER AS THE KING OF SWORDS IN THE TAROT SOLA BUSCA

Alexander Magno was a Myth. His achievements in life were found only in Demi-Gods and Heroes stories. In consequence, he needed a divine lineage. He needed to approach the people of his time to this central point of light which sustains the Universe. His followers needed this as much as the old civilizations needed the old Myths.

Now looking a little bit further to the future we can observe many artists throughout the History who also needed to recreate these Myths to approach people from their time to this divine lineage. Human being need this celestial link to survive.

So here we get…

GOD AND ADAM BY MICHELANGELO

EROS AND PSYCHE BY ANTONIO CANOVA

ZEUS AND EUROPA BY REMBRANDT

ZEUS AND GANYMEDES BY REMBRANDT

ZEUS AND LEDA BY SALVADOR DALI

ZEUS AND DANAE BY GUSTAV KLIMT

ANGEL AND MARY BY EL GRECO

So Alexander needed this. To be who he was he needed this heavenly account.

Now thinking about his role as the King of Spades in the Tarot. Why not the Emperor for example? The Emperor is the greatest conqueror of the Tarot. Meanwhile a King inherits his reign by lineage, the Emperor conquers his empire by war. Were the creators of this Tarot so astute to presume that Alexander was in fact the rightful heir of his empire? Were these creators so sharp to believe he deserved to be seen as a King of Spades, much more as a strategist, than as a conqueror?

Many things can be presumed but not affirmative.

Myths are like this.

And not all the secrets can be unveiled.

IN A READING:

- Legitimacy, Power, Strategy, Victory, Divinity, Greatness, Mastery.