Pillars and gates in tarot: a quiz on arches
The High Priestess' black and white pillars, Justice's golden columns, an arch of wands: name the cards by their pillars and arches and read them.
- 5 questions
- ≈ 2 min
- +5 bronze keys for a flawless run
What do the two pillars mean in tarot?
This quiz is about the pillars, arches and gateways on the cards of the Tayna deck. It checks whether you can recognize a card by what frames its figure, and whether you understand what that frame means. In tarot, pillars almost always mark a threshold: a place where opposites meet, where a judgment is made or where knowledge is handed on.
The most famous pillars stand beside The High Priestess: one black, one white, light and shadow, yes and no. The knowing this card speaks of is born in the space between them. The Hierophant sits between carved temple columns, with two disciples kneeling before him. Justice sits between two golden pillars against a heavy red curtain, holding a sword and level scales.
Arches, gates and thresholds
An arch works like a gate: you pass through it into something new. The Magician stands at a stone altar beneath a tall arch, all four tools within reach. On the Four of Wands an arch of wands wrapped in ivy and roses is both a wedding canopy and the gate of a home: what was built by hand has become a support. On the Ace of Pentacles a green archway with a path toward a mountain reminds you that the Ace is only the entrance.
Sometimes the architecture itself is the frame. On the Eight of Pentacles an open archway in the workshop shows a starry sky and the lights of a castle. On the Nine of Pentacles a stone balustrade with an urn stands behind the woman, and behind Strength you can see the ruins of an ancient temple. Details like these tell you what world a card lives in: a workshop, a temple or a garden of one's own.
In a reading, notice whether the figure sits between pillars, under an arch or beyond it. A threshold often marks a moment of choice or passage.
Quiz rules
Each run draws five questions from a pool of twelve, options shuffled. Answers are final, replays are unlimited. Keys go to a flawless run, and each explanation links to the card page.
All questions and answers
Open after you play: the full question set with right answers and explanations.
1. Whose throne stands between two golden pillars?
Right answer: Justice
Justice sits between golden pillars, a sword in her right hand and level scales in her left.
2. What do the black and white pillars beside The High Priestess mean?
Right answer: Opposites, with knowing between
The pillars are light and shadow, yes and no. Knowing is born in the space between them, not on either side.
3. On which card does a figure stand at a stone altar beneath a tall arch?
Right answer: The Magician
The Magician stands at an altar under an arch: cup, pentacle and sword lie on it, the wand is in his hand.
4. The arch of wands on the Four of Wands is just a festive decoration.
Right answer: Myth
The arch is both a wedding canopy and the gate of a home: what was built by hand has become a support.
5. Behind which woman can you see the ruins of an ancient temple?
Right answer: Strength
Behind Strength lies a valley of mountains, a river, cypresses and temple ruins as she cradles the lion's head.
6. What does The Hierophant sit between?
Right answer: Carved temple columns
The Hierophant sits between carved temple columns in a triple tiara, with two disciples kneeling before him.
7. Behind which woman is there a stone balustrade with an urn?
Right answer: Nine of Pentacles
The Nine of Pentacles woman stands in a vineyard, with cypresses, a balustrade with an urn and a pale villa behind.
8. What hangs behind Justice, between the pillars?
Right answer: A heavy red curtain
A heavy red curtain hangs behind Justice, with a golden halo above. The pomegranate veil belongs to the Priestess.
9. On which card do pillars and red tasseled curtains stand behind a contented man?
Right answer: Nine of Cups
On the Nine of Cups the cups stand in an arc, and above, between pillars and red curtains, shine two moons and a star.
10. What do the thrones of the Priestess, the Hierophant and Justice share?
Right answer: Pillars on both sides
All three sit between pillars: black and white for the Priestess, carved for the Hierophant, golden for Justice.
11. Through which open archway can you see stars and castle lights on a hill?
Right answer: Eight of Pentacles
The Eight of Pentacles craftsman works at night; the open arch shows stars and castle lights, the world his work will reach.
12. Pillars on tarot cards are a sign of prison and lack of freedom.
Right answer: Myth
Pillars frame knowing for the Priestess, teaching for the Hierophant and fair judgment for Justice: a threshold, not bars.