hierophant

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A hierophant is a person who brings religious congregants into the presence of that which is deemed holy. The word comes from Ancient Greece, where it was constructed from the combination of ta hiera, "the holy," and phainein, "to show." In Attica it was the title of the chief priest at the Eleusinian Mysteries. A hierophant is an interpreter of sacred mysteries and arcane principles.

Rider Waite Tarot

In the Rider Waite Tarot deck and similar decks, The Hierophant (sometimes called "The Pope") is one of the twenty-two trump cards comprising the "Major Arcana", and represents conformity to social standards, or a deference to the established social moral order. As the guide towards knowledge, insight and wisdom, in a tarot reading it might, for example represent a priest, scholar, therapist or teacher although these individuals are more definitively represented by the Hermit, or suggested by the traits attributed to the King of Cups.

Popular culture

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• Many games, particularly traditional role-playing games and computer role-playing games, feature entities called Hierophants, whether as a character class or enemy within the game. One example is Dungeons & Dragons, which has featured several rankings termed Hierophant for spellcasters in its various editions. Another example is The House of the Dead 2, in which an enemy called The Hierophant serves as a boss. These depictions do not always resemble their Tarot card inspirations. World of Warcraft features several NPCs and items^[1] referencing the term, presumably indicating healing. In Lineage II, the Prophet class becomes a Hierophant. In Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3, the Hierophant is a Persona arcana, generally associated with knowledge and spellcasting Persona. In Warhammer Fantasy, Hierphants are Imperial Wizards that use the Lore of Light. In Warhammer 40,000, the Hierophant is a Tyranid Titan. In EverQuest, Druids achieving level 60 receive the title Hierophant. In Diablo II Heirophants appear as healers of the Zakarum Religion in Act III. In the game Guild Wars, several late-game enemies, specifically the cat-like Charr and the malicious Stone Summit Dwarves, bear the title of Hierophant. One of such, Duncan the Black, is renowned for being the last boss in the hardest dungeon in the game.

• Guitarist Steve Hackett's album Voyage of the Acolyte is all inspired by Tarot cards - the last song is called Shadow of the Hierophant.

• The Cenobites in Clive Barker's novella "The Hellbound Heart" (filmed as Hellraiser) are often referred to as "Hierophants" and specifically as "Hierophants of the Order of the Gash"

• In the novel Mumbo Jumbo by Ishmael Reed, the Hierophant leads the "Wallflower Order," a secret society dedicated to the containment of the "Jes Grew" epidemic.

• In the novel Poison by Chris Wooding, the ruler of the realms is called the Hierophant, and has control over all that happens, having power even over the characters' free will. There is only one Hierophant, but he can be succeeded at the time of his death by another human.

• The Fortean Times features a monthly column of paranormal gossip written by "The Hierophant".

• In the novel "Halo: First Strike" hundreds of Covenant ships gather at the Unyielding Hierophant while fueling up for an attack on Earth, in search of the Forerunner's Ark

• In the liner notes for Marilyn Manson's album Antichrist Superstar the first four tracks are identified as comprising "Cycle I: The Heirophant". The transposition of the second and third letters to yield "heirophant" is typical of the wordplay found in Manson's works. In the booklet artwork for his later album Holy Wood (In the Shadow of the Valley of Death) there are photos featuring Manson and the other band members as characters in a tarot card collection. Manson himself is found as The Hierophant as well as several other of the cards. There is also a web fan community for Manson named The Heirophant Council.

• The English band Coil has a track called "The Auto-Asphyxiating Hierophant" on their Autumn Equinox CD EP released in 1998. The track is also available on the compilation Moon's Milk (In Four Phases) from 2002.

• In the movie, "Edmond", the protagonist played by William H. Macy who recently sought the services of a Tarot reader, is given a card from a man he meets in a bar (Joe Mantegna) who has offered him advice. At first, he thinks he sees the Hierophant, but the card is actually the name of a strip club.

• In the book Nuklear Age, "Hierophant" is the name of a minor hero that has a brief appearance, meant to be a main character in forthcoming book Atomik Age (both by Brian Clevinger).

• In the game "Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates", the final boss is The Hierophant.

• The Sandman comic A Game of You features a character called the Hierophant.

• In the game Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia, you can equip a ring called the Hierophant Ring, which increases the amount of EXP gained.

• In the television series "Witchblade", "Hierophant" was the title of a second season episode originally aired on July 22, 2002.

• In the Aquarian Gospels, Jesus met with the hierophant to ask to join their secret brotherhood.
• In Ultima 7 part 2, there were three characters with the title "Hierophant"
• Hierophant is the name of a mythical "angel" in the short series That Insidious Beast by Zack Parsons of Something Awful.

Notable hierophants

• Eunapius
• Nestorius
• Priskus
• Shanoa

See also

• Daduchos

References

• Britannica article
• The last hierophant at Eleusis
• Dictionary definition
• Definition from alt religion

Occult tarot

• Explanation
• Hierophant or Pope Tarot card