Topic: Orphism

The worldview embedded in the Sola Busca deck draws from Orphism and Neoplatonic philosophy, maintaining a continuous tradition from the 8th century BC through the 15th century. Despite attempts by Christian Emperor Justinian to suppress these ideas, the Byzantine civil service remained imbued with Hellenistic values. This allowed pagan philosophical and magical concepts to survive within the imperial elite for centuries.

The worldview expressed in the deck involves the reincarnation of souls, or metempsychosis, with the Milky Way serving as a portal between worlds. This Orphic tradition survived for over 1,200 years despite attempts by the Christian Emperor Justinian to suppress it. The Byzantine civil service remained deeply imbued with Hellenistic pagan values through the study of classical literature and philosophy well into the 15th century.