[HPforGrownups] Re: replies to many, many, many posts

[Bart Lidofsky]

No: HPFGUIDX 170149

Bart:
>> While the concept of elemental properties of entities, such as the so-
>called "4 elements" (as opposed to elemental composition, such as the 
>chemical elements), existed in the distant past, Tarot is a relatively 
>recent innovation, requiring paper and printing (probably not earlier 
>than the 15th century). In other words, while the houses may have been 
>based on the 4 elements, they were almost certainly not based on Tarot. 

Dana:
>That is not correct tarot (the rules of tarot not the card reading) was 
>already used by the ancient Egyptians and has its origin in alchemy and 
>the Emerald tables of Thot which are later contributed to Hermes. So 
>eventhough tarot was not known in the concept as we know it now, its 
>concepts originate from acient believes.

Bart:
Which has nothing to do with Tarot, nor do the links you gave contradict what I wrote, at all. 

Dana:
>So JKR using this ancient concept is not only extremly likely to built 
>her founder elements from she even uses the same elements that are used 
>in tarot today. Fire - wands, air - swords, water - cups, earth - 
>pentecals. JKR just has fun with it by jugging them around but the idea 
>is still very similar. She even uses the name of one tarot card to name 
>one of the chaptera in her book. The lightning-struck tower which is 
>actually so much fun because the card predicts precisly what the reader 
>will do when he receives such a card in a tartot reading - being in 
>totaly denial ;o)
>
>http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/learn/meanings/tower.shtml
>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermeticism

Bart:
If she is basing it on the idea of the "ancient Tarot" (originated by 18th and 19th century authors, who based it on, "we made it up"), well, the books ARE fictional. 

Bart