Suit of cups

Suit of Cups ("Coppe") from an 18th-century Venetian deck

The Suit of Cups or Suit of Goblets is one of the four suits of Latin-suited playing cards. These are used in Spain ("Copas"), Italy ("Coppe") and in tarot. The suit of hearts is derived from the suit of cups. These are sometimes referred to as chalices as well as cups.

In tarot, it is part of what is called the "Minor Arcana". Like the other tarot suits, it contains fourteen cards: ace (one), two through ten, page, knight, queen and king.

The suit represents the First Estate (the Clergy).

Tarot cards are used throughout much of Europe to play Tarot card games.[1] In English-speaking countries, where the games are largely unknown, Tarot cards came to be utilized primarily for divinatory purposes.[1][2]

Divinatory and occult meanings

In tarot, the element of cups is water, and the suit of cups pertains to situations and events of an emotional nature.[3][4] As such, when the tarot is used in divination, many cups signify an emotional issue or love situation, or some event that affects the querent emotionally. The watery astrological signs are Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces. Additionally, cups were the symbol of the clergy in feudal times, and thus cup cards can also be interpreted as having to do with spiritual or religious matters.

Cards in the suit of Cups

Card images in the Rider-Waite tarot deck

Alternate decks

In French-language decks, the suit is called Coupes ("Cups"). The picture cards are Valet (Page), Chevalier (Horseman or Knight), Reine (Queen), and Roi (King). This was later replaced by Hearts.

In Swiss decks the suit is represented by six-lobed Rosen ("Roses").

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cups (playing cards).
  1. 1 2 Dummett, Michael (1980). The Game of Tarot. Gerald Duckworth and Company Ltd. ISBN 0-7156-1014-7.
  2. Huson, Paul, (2004) Mystical Origins of the Tarot: From Ancient Roots to Modern Usage, Vermont: Destiny Books, ISBN 0-89281-190-0 Mystical Origins of the Tarot
  3. Burger, Evelin; Johannes Fiebig (2004). Tarot Basics. New York: Sterling. p. 76. ISBN 1402730403.
  4. Tarantino, P.C. (2007). Tarot for the New Aeon. Pebble Beach, CA: Alternative Insights. pp. 245–246. ISBN 0976618400.
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