Strength is one of the cardinal virtues. What is a cardinal virtue? Well, when I first came across them I wondered if it was like the cardinal directions, maybe you could navigate by them and in a way you can navigate the field of ethics. The four cardinal virtues come from a theory where all moral virtues fall under one of 4 categories: Strength, Prudence, Justice and Temperance. Each of those categories is a cardinal virtue, a moral strength or ability, which if a person was plentiful in that virtue, they would be able to act morally in all the virtues which hinge on it. In the modern study of ethics, this categorization provides little advancement to the field, so it is mostly considered outdated.
The earliest version of the card features a lion tamer with a large stick ready to hit the lion. The Marseille deck features a woman opening the lion’s mouth, whereas strangely in Smith-Waite-Rider’s deck she appears to be closing it.
It should also be noted that this card was originally the 11th card and Justice appeared in 8th position. Mathers however noticed that if the zodiac was applied in order to all the cards in the position of single Hebrew letters then Libra
Lemniscate
This infinity symbol at the top indicates the character’s connection with the divine infinite.
Flowers
The flowers are now the roses only so this card indicates the strength to choose only divine focusing things. Those flowers supposedly fall down to become a yoke or lead holding the lion. The flowers as a yoke indicates the lack of effort this application of strength requires.
Dress
The dress i white indicating the virtue’s purity
Lion
The Lion indicates our wild natures that the virtue seeks to control and channel. According to Eliphas Levi the woman closes the maw of the lion, but earlier cards indicate the opposite.
The lion is also symbolic of the zodiac sign of Leo associated with this card.
Background
The background indicates wilderness where strength is required for survival.