Castle Tarot Symbol Meaning

The common definition of a castle is a fortified private residence. The innovation of castles that began to be built in the Middle Ages was that the fortifications were not intended to protect an entire population but were built by local feudal lords to protect themselves or their kings.

The primary purpose of the castle was as a military and administrative center. The castle was designed to protect its inhabitants, but it also served as an offensive tool and often functioned as a regional command center from which the army could launch attacks on enemy territory.

European castles began to be built in the 9th century. Nobles built castles to control their territories and serve as bases for their armies. Soon, castles began to serve as local centers of governance and symbols of the rulers' power. Early castles utilized natural defense features such as mountains or rivers and did not include the towers or arrow slits that later became identifying features of castles, instead relying on a central keep. In the late 12th and early 13th centuries, a scientific approach to castle defenses began to develop, leading to the addition of many towers and turrets to the walls. Not all architectural features of the castle were intended for military purposes; some were designed to serve as symbols of power and grandeur. Only from the 13th century were arrow slits added to the walls, as before that, there was a concern that they would weaken the strength of the wall.

Toward the end of the Middle Ages, castles began to lose their defensive importance, mainly due to the development of cannons strong enough to breach their fortifications. As a result, the primary purpose of the castle shifted to being a residence and a display of power. Additionally, the aesthetics of the castle began to be more important than its fortifications, as its size and exterior appearance started to reflect the prestige and power of its occupant. Although castles could still defend against simple attacks, they began to be replaced by mansions and palaces.

The castle was usually built on a flat hill, called a Motte in French and English, to make it difficult for the enemy to approach. Sometimes the hill was natural, but in most cases, it was man-made. Digging the earth to create the hill formed a surrounding moat, which also served as a defense mechanism and was sometimes filled with water. Access to the castle on the hill was usually via a drawbridge or stone bridge stretched over the moat.

The keep, with its phallic shape symbolically representing the male aspect, power, and strength, was also known as the donjon and was the inner structure of the castle. Typically, it was a large tower with especially thick walls, built on the fortified hill, where the castle lord, his family, and his guests resided. The keep was the most important and secure part of the feudal castle. If the enemy breached all the castle's defenses, the inhabitants could take refuge in the keep, which was very difficult to penetrate.

Outside the keep was an inner courtyard, known in English as the Bailey, which also referred to the walls and cells, symbolizing the feminine aspect of protection and nurturing. In the courtyard, one could find the soldiers' and servants' quarters, stables, workshops, and storage rooms. Typically, there was also a water source such as a well or cistern in the courtyard. The courtyard had supplies that could last for a long time in case of a siege.

In Tarot, castles symbolize both the masculine aspect of power and strength (the keep), with its tower symbolizing high awareness and the pursuit of spiritual insights, and the feminine aspect of protection and nurturing (the inner courtyard, rooms, and walls). Castles represented strength, defense, security, and displays of power, prestige, and wealth, as well as tranquility and creation.

Where can castles be found in the Tarot?