The Tarocchino Milanese Lexicon by Mark Filipas Each pictorial element of Dellarocca’s Tarocchino Milanese is listed below in English and in Hebrew(1). Whereas the Marseilles pattern appears crude to modern eyes, the Tarocchino Milanese engravings are intricately detailed and its pictorial elements therefore more easily identifiable within the lexicon. Dellarocca’s deck is also distinguished by the huge array of unique objects added into its designs. I submit that these objects are the key to the Tarocchino Milanese. Why? Because this profusion of objects and their singular position within the Hebrew lexicon makes an extremely strong case that they were intended as alphabetic allusions. Words highlighted in magenta denote words which are known to have existed in Medieval and Renaissance sources and are identified as such by Jastrow’s and/or Grossman’s Dictionaries(2). Words highlighted in cyan are also from those sources and denote explicit parallels between the literal meaning of that letter’s name (or derivatives thereof) and the corresponding trump image. Aleph Cobbler — AVShKPA Hat — APYLYVN, APYLYVTh Goblet — AGN Skein — AVN, AShVH Tongs — ATzBThY Hammer — ARZVBA, ARYPThA Shoemaker’s form or “last” — AMVS Mortar of a pestle — ASYThA Separate threads or hangings — ASPRYTYN Tray, Long board — ANChVThH, ARVKH Four-legged table — ARBO RGLY Bet Reader of the Scriptures — BOL QRYAH Veil, Curtain — BNYThA Headdress — BYYKA, BRTzVTz Woman’s plait or lock of hair — BLVRYThA Cloak — BYRVS, BRSYM, BRSYN Clasp — BZYVNA Footrest — BSYS Cushion — BYSThRQA, BRKYYR Basilica, Semicircular building with colonades — BSLQY

Trumps from Carlo Dellarocca’s Tarocchino Milanese, 1835 (Il Meneghello reprint).

Gimel Queen, Lady — GBYRH Ball-shaped knob on cane — GLH Cuirass, Protective armor — GYNYN Bird of prey, Falcon — GZ, GS Long pole — GYSSA Pole joining frames of bedstead — GShYSh Awning, Canopy — GGVN, GNVGNTh Fringe — GDYL, GDL Blanket — GVNKA, GLVPQRY Daleth Duke, Lord — DVKVS, DVRA Profile — DYVQN Crown — DYR Iron point on a staff, Goad — DQRN, DRBN Kite, Bird of prey — DAH, DYH Footstool — DRGSh Spurs — DRBN He Faith — HAMNH, HBTChH, HYMNV Pontiff, Cardinal — HGMVN Consecration — HQDSh, HThQDShVTh The Temple — HYKL Crown — HDR Necklace, Emblem of office — HMNYKA Divided into thirds — HShThLSh Vav Love — VDO To designate a wife — VOD Marriage — VGVHY Couple — VGVHY Wooden poker (arrow?) — VDY Hook (arrowhead?) — VV Zayin Triumph — ZKH, ZKY Military Guard — ZQYP Rod of an officer — ZMVRH Crown — ZR, ZVR Armor — ZYN Sword — ZYN Cuirass, Armor — ZVNY, ZRDA Crimson-colored silk — ZHVRYTh Wreath (in foreground and on chariot) — ZR, ZVR War Horse — ZRZYR Horse’s bit — ZMM Harness — ZRZ Ram (between the horses) — ZMR, ZKR Olive (branch under left horse) — ZYTh, ZYThA Branch (olive and palm branches under horses) — ZMVRH Chet Judgement, Verdict — ChYThVK, ChLT Visionary, Seer (eye on girding) — ChVZAH, ChVZH, ChZH Vision (eye on girding) — ChZVN Ornament — ChLYH Sword — ChRB Scales — ChRSPYThYN To weigh — ChShB Fine white linen — ChVR Girding around waist — ChGVR, ChShB Thick blanket — ChMYLH Embroidered design — ChVTBA Hem, Garment border — ChYQ, ChBTh Sandal thong — ChBT, ChVT Tet Elder — TB, TVB Toga, One-piece garment — TVGA Prayer cloak, Cloak — TLYTh, TRYGVN Oil pan — TYGN, TGNN Tuber, Tubercle — TYNR Three-legged — TRSQL Yud Soothsayer, Diviner — YDONY Power, Authority (crowned figure with lightning bolts) — YD The casting of lots — YDD, YDH Ram’s horn — YBL, YVBL Riches — YThRH Urn, Cauldron — YDVD To burn, To kindle — YTzTh, YQD Rising pillar of smoke — YTVR To turn — YTzR Handle — YD, YDYTh Axle — YD Base — YSD, YSVDH Fowler (the fox) — YQVSh Green herbs — YRQ

Trumps from Carlo Dellarocca’s Tarocchino Milanese, 1835 (Il Meneghello reprint).

Kaph Strength — KCh, KChYVTh, KP To restrain, subdue — KBSh Crown — KVThRTh, KLYL, KRBLTh, KThR Bonnet — KMThH Hairnet worn under headdress — KBVL Tight sleeves — KYRVMNYQYA Gown with wide sleeves — KNDA Lion — KPYR Lamed Informant — LChSh, LYTYRYN To speak a foreign tongue, To impute another — LTzZ Strapped up — LBVB Attached to, Clinging to — LVA, LVBD, LVY, LMD, LPP, LThA Loop, Tie, Twine around — LVLAH, LVLY, LLAH, LPTh Board, Plank — LVCh Athwart, Across from one side to the other — LVKSN Sidepost — LChY Mortised boards — LMVD, LYMVDYM Two posts supporting a beam — LVLB Birch or Poplar tree — LBNH Tunic — LSVTH Sprout — LVLB Stake (at bottom of posts) — LChY Embroidery — LQYT Buttonholes — LVLAH Mem Death — MVTh, MYThH, MMVTh Reaper — MQTzRH Scythe — MGL Handle — MSYT, MRVO Yarn on a distaff — MMZVR, MOZLA Booklet — MGLH Sword — MKRH, MKYRYN Saw, Serrated tool — MGRH, MSR, MQTzVO, MShVR Axe — MGZR, MOTzD, MORTzH Priest’s headdress — MTzNPTh Miter — MGBTzTH KHVNH Makhlalta (great crown) — MKLLThA Broom — MBYNA, MTATA, MKBD Mallet — MQBTh Medal — MTBOA Badge of office — MNYKA Necklace — MVNYYQ, MNYQ Pointed metal, bent for use as a key or amulet — MSMR Brushes — MKChL, MKThB, MTzBVO Ink, Pigment — MYLN Nun Temperance — NThChSM, NZYRH, NZYRVTh Pouring liquid from vessel to vessel — NTzVQ Flowing water — NVB, NZL, NVZLYM To pour out — NGR, NSK, NThK To fill up — NTP Vessel — NBGA, NTLA Vessels of brass or copper — NGVDA, NChShTh Feathers, Plumage — NTzH Flower, Blossom — NTz Block of stone — NDBK Samech Satan — STN To blush — SMQ Hair standing erect — SMR Thorny rod — SYLThA Metal spike at end of a spear — SVPYNA Barbed tops of a fence — SNYPA Thorn — SVL, SYSNA, SYR, SKA, SLVN, SNH Garment made of goat hair — SVSRNA Salamander — SLMNDRA Fire-serpent — SRP Wild beasts — SMLNYTh Ayin Flash of light — ODY Attacked by fire — OYKVL Soot, Smoke, Debris — OPR, OShN Upper story — OLY, OLYH To Detach, To tear loose — OQR Brickwork — OTRH Engine for hurling missiles — OBYTh Wrought metal ball — OShShYTh, OShTh Metal bars (on window) — OBRA, OShShYTh Curved shield — OGYL Serpent — OVYA, OKN, OKS, OKShVB, ORMVNA Slave — OBD Concealment — OBYA, OLM Breaking the neck — ORYPH Beam, Rafter — OB, OVB Foliage — OBVP, OLH, OPY Peh Pleiades (the constellation) — PLYDVTh Lights — PVTA Tree — PLVMRYH, PRSQ, PRYSh Branch, Bough — PARH, PSGH Bird — PVRYThH, PYRVZ, PRChThA, PRYGA, PRYDH, PShVShA Naked — PYOVR, PRM, PShT Orifice of the womb — PH, PVThH Menstruation (see position of vessel)— PThCh Bank of a Stream — PH Stream — PYGY, PLG Open vessels — PH Vessel, Jar — PK, PTYS, PYTVS, PYQTNY, PThRA To disperse — PVTz, PZR, PYZVR, PYLVG, PYS, PLG Parthenos, the Virgin — PRThNVS Beauty — PARVA, PYVThA Headband — PRQLYM Sheet, Blanket — PLYVM Thick growth of bushes — PROH Flower — PRCh Tzaddi Heavenly bodies — TzBA HShMYM Pincers, Pair of tongs — TzBTh, TzNVRTh Banquet dish, Plate — TzVOH, TzOA, TzOH, TzLChTh Hunting dog — KLBY TzYD Baying at the Moon— TzOQ HY VQYM Landmark or pillar — TzYVN Cone-shaped roof — TzRYP Water — TzNYM, TzNYNYM Ship, Fleet — TzY, TzYM Flower — TzYTzH Qoph Summer - QYT, QYTz Sunbeams, To emit rays — QRN Fog — QBL Breaking through — QRYTz Urn — QBYH, QLPY Wall — QYR, QVPYA To meet with another — QDM, QRY, QRH Junction at a road — QBLA Dancing — QPZ, QRQR Curled or plaited hair — QVTz, QYVVTz, QLTz Sash — QShVRYM Resh Sounding of the trumpet — RAOThA, RVO Blowing, Blowing out the cheeks — RPCh Raziel, the Herald Angel — RZYAL Resurrection (not yet found in Hebrew sources) — ? Regeneration — RGNRTzYH To raise up, To rise — RVM, RVMM, RYM, RMM Small rectangular cloth — RVNQYN Flames (shown in the air) — RShP Spirits of the Dead — RPAYM Deep sleep — RDM Multitude — RBV, RVB Fear, Terror — RHVTh, RThTh Earthquake, To tremble — RGZ, RGSh, RChP, RTO, ROD, ROSh Pavement blocks — RBYOYTh, RVBD Tomb, Resting place — RBTz Shin Portal — ShOR Heaven — ShMYA, ShMYM Portal of Heaven — ShOR HShMYM Bands (at the quadrants of the wreath) — ShVRYYNY, ShNTz Scarlet bands — ShBYS Naked, Barefoot — ShVLL Bracelet — ShYR, ShRH Armlet — ShRVVL Blanket, Coverlet — ShVShPA, ShMYKH Piece of cloth — ShVSThG Angel — ShNAN, ShR, ShRP Eagle, Bird of Prey — ShLK, ShRQRQ, ShVRYNQA Lion — ShChL, ShChTz Bull — ShVR Cleft-hooved, Cloven-footed animal — ShSVO, ShSO Tooth, Claw, Horn, Hoof — ShN, ShYN — the four quadrants of the wreath presumably correspond to winter, spring, summer and fall, and show a multitude of objects: Branch (upper right quadrant) — ShBShA, ShYTzYNA Thorn — ShVVKA, ShK, ShMYR Flame, Fire — ShLHBTh, ShRPH Fruit (lower right quadrant) — ShYQZMY Cluster of olives, Olives — ShVBL, ShPKVNY Dates — ShLPVPY Plum — ShZYP, ShYSQY White figs — ShVCh Wild figs — ShYTh Grain (lower left quadrant) — ShBR, ShBL Almond — ShQD Wheat — ShChMThYTh Rye — ShYPVN, ShPVN Oats — ShBLTh, ShYPVN Barley — ShOVRH, ShORH, ShORY Onion — ShMKA Garlic — ShVM, ShVMNYTh Flowers (upper left quadrant) — ShVShNH Poppy — ShVMShMA Lily — ShVShN, ShShN Acacia — ShTH Tav Folly — ThHLH, ThPLH Fool — ThVRMVN, ThRDA Wandering, Waywardness — ThYVBA, ThOH Knapsack, Travelling bag — ThRMYL To carry a knapsack — ThRML Staff, Crutch — ThGDA, ThGRA Feather in a cap — ThHLH Lace (around his shoulders) — ThChRYM Leaves of a fig tree — ThANH Stitch, Seam — ThK, ThKYPH, ThPYRH, ThPR Mark, Sign (on the back of shirt?) — ThYV Staves of bone formation — ThOOMTh Bare foot — ThChThYTh Heel — ThPVCh OQB Goat — ThYSh —¤— Back to the Index

Footnotes: (1) All words can be found either in the Jastrow or Grossman dictionary. Key to the English transliterations above: A — aleph B — bet G — gimel D — dalet H — he V — vav Z — zayin Ch — chet T — tet Y — yud K — kaph L — lamed M — mem N — nun S — samech O — ayin P — peh Tz — tzaddi Q — qoph R — resh Sh — shin Th — tav Bibliography: · Jastrow, Marcus, Ph.D. Litt.D. A Dictionary of the Targumim, the Talmud Babli and the Yerushalmi, and the Midrashic Literature, The Judaica Press, 1992 (first published in 1903). · Grossman, Reuben. Compendious Hebrew–English Dictionary, Comprising a complete vocabulary of Biblical, Mishnaic, Medieval and Modern Hebrew, Dvir Publishing Co., 1938.

Copyright © 2002 Mark Filipas – 7/21/02