More traditional in its imagery, this card shows four swords with one lying by its owners side. Our Amazon warrior lies resting in 'the Great Sleep' in the same way as many a great ruler or soldier of the ages has done so, for truly her place in the annals of history and legend command no less. However, it's worth pointing out that the Amazon graves were characterised by the owners shield becoming their markers though some Amazon graves show that Amazons were sometimes buried with their horses.... And the modern day church? this shows that although the Amazon nation is no more, it's spirit has endured to the modern day: it is called woman.

Here I lie as time goes by;
My Friends, avenge me not….
For in this tomb, this cool stone room,
I rest from battles fought

A disheartened Amazon is seen sitting on the ground having gathered several swords -the remains of an armoury- some of which have fallen from her grasp. Their owners are seen wandering off into the distance. From being a warrior, our Amazon has now become a survivor and must gather her strength to face what is next. As with the three, a special festival just before winter was set aside for the Amazons to release themselves from their grief and to progress to the new phase of life when there was nothing left to be done with the old one.

With sombre mood and heavy heart
We realise what has gone…
We hesitate to this fresh start,
But with heavy heart, move on…

Six swords are seen bridging a gulf of difference, thus taking us from a dubious and troubled past into a more comfortable present. We see an Amazon in a more relaxed stance, taking in the beauty of Aretias (today Giresun Adasi, where ancient rites are still performed and certain festivals are still dominated by women), the Sacred island of the Amazons, which was said to be off the coast of Colchis in the Black Sea. This would show that they indeed did cross the seas to further their military conquests and personal journeys and would return to worship, their tasks being done.

We journey over the deep blue sea
And come across new territory,
All new land and things we find,
And leave our troubles far behind…

An Amazon warrior is seen journeying to a new land carrying all that is seen to be important to her. Yet there is something left behind which she is powerless to retrieve.
Ancient Thermodon Amazon Queen Lysippe traversed the land surging forward with her armies after her son, Tanais whose virginity and devotion to Artemis caused his death by a jealous and rejected Aphrodite. Having moved on from her homeland, she felt she could not return and founded a new city, Themiskyra where she set about conquering further in honour of Ares and Artemis Tauropolis (Taurica Dea) whose brutal worship, and indeed the Amazon way of life, she is said to have founded.

Inconstant Moon does wax and wane
To rise when the day is done;
But courage determined once more does reign
As she boldly faces the fire of the Sun

The swords are illustrated as the daggers of the mind and are seen baring down on their unfortunate victim who is tied and bound and unable to resist. They form the bars and walls of a prison... The plight of Antigone exemplifies this card as she, like Cassandra, was a victim of controlling forces that try as she might, she could not resist. Her quarrel was with the autocratic King Creon of Thebes over her brother Polynices' duplicitous deeds, for even though she was betrothed to the kings son, she had little authority or defence. Still, as she confronted the King and challenged him over this, it became clear to see who had the power and who was trapped within it.

Restrictions rule with bonds so tight
Feel Antigone's pain…
For in this tunnel there is no light,
No progress and no gain…

We see the face of a woman plagued by violent chagrin and persecution of those infamous daggers of the mind. Cassandra was such a woman. Given the gift of prophesy by Apollo, she then spurned his love and rejected him. A gift of the Gods could never be taken back, so in his revenge, Apollo cursed the beautiful Cassandra by spitting in her mouth, making sure that her prophesies although remaining true, would never be believed. Cassandra's life was governed by nightmares from which there was no escape. It was tragically, or perhaps mercifully cut short by the murderous Queen Clytemnestra, wife of conquering Agamemnon of Mycenae.

I am the nightmare, colour me black
I bring you the worst of your dreams.
With tears and great sorrow to burden your back
'tis your fear that creates your screams...

A fallen Amazon warrior is seen laying outside a city in flames. This city is the City of Troy, ruled over by King Priam, father of Cassandra, and now ally to the Amazons lead by Penthesilea . This allegiance was doomed as the Trojans and Amazons alike were vanquished by the Greeks and the City of Troy was destroyed. Any good that came out of this devastation was that Penthesilea was buried by the Trojans with the highest of honours bestowed upon her. The name Penthesilea means "Compelling Men to Mourn" and indeed she did for as legend has it, after her death at the hands of Achilles, he took off her helmet and immediately mourned her passing to such a degree that he violated her corpse. In life, as a Daughter of Ares, she was a phenomenal warrior, but in death she had become a woman.

The final curtain closes down,
The chapter comes to an end,
The vexing question makes us frown;
Where will the next path wend…

A warrior stands in her element of Air, brandishing her sword .
Amazons were trained to use all forms of weaponry and especially in single combat. In the ninth labour of Hercules, six Amazons fought him in single combat knowing him to be invulnerable, before dying for their queen. They were honourable and courageous, and represented rebellion against sexism and male domination. Tales of their fearsome exploits spread quickly across the land and soon stories of the Amazons were everywhere, including Africa, Asia, Europe and the whole of the known world.

Vigilance I bring to you,
And being ready to cut and run...
My caution will still see you through,
When all the overseeing's done...

The symbolism of the Knight of Swords has been embodied by a Centaur.It has been said that although the Centaurs were the sworn enemies of the Amazons, couplings between them did take place.... accounts vary here but it has been suggested that centaurs were actually the male half of the Amazon population and that they were infact the men folk (like I said, sworn enemies!) who, as they tended the fields and the animals, did so on horse back. Thus, to the onlooker, there would appear to be half men/half horse creatures riding within the realm.
The vigour by which this Knight approaches his tasks can be clearly seen. Both fearsome and skilled in his stance, the Knight of Swords parades through his element of Air. His fearless approach emulates the attitude of the Amazons in Battle. Whether out numbered or in superior force, the apocryphal Amazons were a force not to be trifled with.

Both swift of steel and sure am I,
With greatness and with chivalry...
But also wrath and war come nigh,
With this cry of bravery...

Two Queens are shown here in their element of air holding the warriors sword. The Amazons, skilled and versed in the art of warfare were also self sufficient on the domestic front. They were successful in this balance because they had two queens to rule them. One for the more nurturing domestic rule and one for defence and the aggressive military campaigns that carved their path through the chapters of antiquity and into the annals of legend. This card also reflects the dual nature of the Goddess Artemis, who personified the duality between good and evil as both existed within her.

Here I sit upon my throne,
Alone in my sad sorrow....
I face my trials all alone,
But reach towards tomorrow.

The Lord of the Powers Of Air
The face of a strong and powerful King gazes past a sword held slightly to one side as if to acknowledge you. He is in his element of Air.
With what the King of Swords represents standing outside the regular day to day existence of our lives, is the reflection of Hippolytus, the only ever male Amazon. His life was one of utter devotion to the Goddess Artemis and he set himself aside from the normal lives of men in that he made no bond with a mortal woman. This king bridges the gap between the Major and Minor Arcana.

I sit in judgement, sword held high,
Giving justice out to all...
I see the truth where e'er it lie
And bring its power to my call..