King of Wands

The King of Wands is a card representing a passionate person who may wield a certain amount of power. They have a noble bearing, an electric presence, and they are a capable lover. For this card, I chose a pomegranate, for its varied symbolism – war, blood, love, power, and passion, all in one fruit. The earliest known depiction of a pomegranate is on a vase found in the temple of the goddess Astarte from 4th Century BC, and it was buried with some high-ranking Egyptians in the form of woven necklaces. Known as a crowned apple for its shape like an imperial orb, its many seeds make it a symbol of fecundity for multiple gods, including Aphrodite (who planted it in her sacred grove in Cyprus), Hadad, Hermes, Dionysus, and Isis. The crown on this card is specifically inspired by Hadadrimmon’s bull-horned crown, who is the Semite king god of thunder and agriculture, and whose name was supposed to be phonentically similar to the word for pomegranate. 

(From Botanica, my series of paintings for an upcoming tarot deck featuring magical herbs and plants)

6x8x.5″, acrylic and ink on wood