3. The Red Queen was the queen of hearts. The colours of the cards are black and red, presumably corresponding to winter respectively summer - the two ladies of Sun. The King had respect for his Summer Queen, or one should rather say fear. In chess the queen is the most powerful of the 'players'. The following picture (which I have copied from D. C. Starzecka, Maori Art and Culture) explains why:
At the highest point of this unique storehouse (in Taranaki, New Zealand), at the apex of the roof (at midsummer), the terrified King (left) is loosing his head which is transformed into an egg (right). We should remember: ... The skulls of the chiefs are for the chicken, so that thousands may be born' (te puoko ariki mo te moa, mo topa o te piere) ... As long as the source of mana is kept in the house, the hens are impregnated (he rei te moa i te uha), they lay eggs (he ne'ine'i te uha i te mamari), and the chicks are hatched (he topa te maanga) ... In midwinter (the floor of the storehouse) we can observe a cat in the central (most important) position. He is surrounded by two ladies. Maybe the creator of the storehouse identified his cat with the constellation Leo, which north of the equator is connected with summer, but which south of the equator instead must be observed in winter - given that the time of observation is the same. If for instance Leo were observed in zenith at midnight some time during the summer north of the equator, then it must be winter south of the equator - but Leo will be there up in the sky at midnight, even if it is winter. |
