The next ten cards depict the three cosmic principles and seven ethical principles that govern the worlds of nature and man. In modern physical terms, the geniuses, Iliaco, Chronico, and Cosmico, can be thought of as representing energy, time, and space. The seven virtues here are the four cardinal virtues that were described by Plato and Aristotle, Temperance, Fortitude, Prudence, and Justice; and the three theological virtues cited by St. Paul in 1 Corinthians “There are three things that last forever: Faith Hope and Love”. For 15th-century Italians, the primary authorities on virtue were Aristotle’s three treatises on ethics, and, for the theological virtues, the Summa Theologica of Saint Thomas Aquinas.
XXXI Iliaco
Iliaco, whose name derives from the same root as Helios, is the genius (spirit) of the Sun. He is depicted as a standing winged figure holding up and looking at a glowing Sun-face, which is looking back at him. In the background is a forest.
Iliaco represents not the Sun, but energy and illumination.
XXXII Chronico
Chronico, the genius of time, holds a dragon ouroboros, symbol of cyclical time. Behind him is a stand of trees, including two fanciful triple-decker trees.
XXXIII Cosmico
Cosmico, genius of the world, holds an orb like the one at Apollo’s feet in card XX/20, containing both Heaven and Earth. He also stands in front of a forest.
XXXIIII Temperancia (Temperance)
Temperance is the virtue of moderation and balance. For Aristotle, this was the basis of all virtue, as he saw the other virtues as being the middle way between inertia and excess.
As in the tarot, Temperance is shown pouring liquid from one vessel to another, the implication being that she is cooling, diluting, or otherwise moderating the contents of the lower vessel.
Temperance has an animal companion, an ermine, a symbol of purity, due to its pure white coat, and also of nobility, due to the value of its pelt.
XXXV Prudencia (Prudence)
Prudence, the virtue of thinking and acting with wisdom and good judgment, is depicted with two faces—a female face looking straight right and a bearded male face looking straight left. This suggests seeing things from different perspectives and looking both forward and backward. The left hand holds a mirror which the female face is looking into, to symbolize self-knowledge; the right hand holds a compass, indicating a measured approach.
Prudence’s animal companion is a small wyvern (dragon), symbol of wisdom. In other depictions, such as the minchiate* card shown here, Prudence holds a snake.
*The minchiate is a variant of tarot with 41 trump cards.
XXXVI Forteza (Fortitude)
Fortitude refers to courage and strength of character. It is represented by a woman wearing a breastplate and helmet depicting the face of a lion. She holds a broken column with her left hand and carries a mace in her right; behind her is a lion.
The iconography of this card recalls the story of Samson, who killed a lion with his bare hands and brought down the temple of Dagon by pushing on its central pillars. This virtue is called Strength in most modern tarot decks, and shows a woman subduing a lion, but some renaissance tarots show her with a column instead.
XXXVII Iusticia (Justice)
Justice appears here holding the same traditional sword and scales seen in the tarot, though she is standing, rather than enthroned. The scales symbolize impartial judgement, and the sword, enforcement.
At her feet is a crane, holding a stone with its foot. Legend has it that a crane would stand sentry over the flock holding a stone, so that if it fell asleep, the stone would fall and wake it.
XXXVIII Charita (Charity)
Charity was considered the greatest of the theological virtues. She is shown pulling the bosom of her dress open to show the fire of love burning in her heart. With her right hand she is pouring out the contents of a small sack. It is not clear whether she is pouring out her gold or feeding the pelicans at her feet.
The pelican is shown feeding its young. It was believed that the female pelican lacerated her breast to feed her young with her blood, thus making the pelican a symbol of self-sacrificing love, and in medieval Christianity, as symbol of Christ. This gesture finds an analogy in the flames pouring from Charity’s bosom.
XXXVIIII Speranza (Hope)
Hope stands prayerfully, looking up toward the light emanating from the corner of the frame. At her feet is a phoenix, immolating itself on its funeral pyre. Because these mythical birds were reborn from their ashes, they were a symbol of resurrection.
XXXX Fede (Faith)
Faith holds a cross in her left hand and a chalice, with a communion wafer above it, in her right. Her companion is a small dog, symbol of fidelity.
