There are sixteen cards in the Tarot deck that are called the "Court Cards." These court cards are comprised of four Kings, four Queens, four Knights, and four Pages. Each suit has a King, Queen, Knight and Page. Modern playing cards have omitted the four Pages, but modern Tarot cards still retain the Pages, although they are sometimes called a Princess.

The Court cards are based upon four constellations in the northern celestial sky. The Kings are representations of the constellation Cepheus the Celestial King. Cepheus is also pictured as the Emperor in the Major Arcana of the Tarot deck. The Queen cards are representations of the constellation Cassiopeia, the Celestial Queen. Cassiopeia is also pictured as the Empress in the Major Arcana.

The Knights are representations of the constellation Perseus, the celestial knight. Perseus is also pictured as the young man in the Lovers card of the Major Arcana. In this book the Knight will be called the Prince because the Knights are a portrayal of Prince Perseus. The Pages portray the constellation Andromeda, the celestial princess. The Princess Andromeda is also pictured as the young woman in the Lovers card of the Major Arcana. The Page will be called the Princess in this book because the Pages represent Princess Andromeda.

The Court cards portray the Royal Family of the heavens. The story of the Royal Family has been told in myth and legend since the time of the poet Ovid. Although there are several versions of the myth, it has become a favorite for many centuries.

Cepheus was king of Ethiopia, and accompanied the Argonauts on their adventure in search for the golden Fleece. Upon his return to h is kingdom he sought out the most beautiful woman in the land and married her. The name of the Queen was Cassiopeia, and she was more beautiful than any of the women in the kingdom, but she was soon to become vain and arrogant. In time she had a daughter who was named Andromeda and who was also known for her great beauty.

Cassiopeia became so filled with pride that she claimed that she and her daughter were more beautiful than the Nereids, who were the sea-nymph daughters of the sea god Poseidon and the sea-goddess named Doris. The Nereids complained to their father who rose up from the sea in anger and lifted his great trident high and then plunged it down creating an earthquake that shook the boulders away from the cavern that Cetus the sea monster was trapped within.

Poseidon released the sea monster and commanded it to attack the harbors and shores in revenge for the vain remark made by the Queen Cassiopeia. All of the kingdom was in terror and King Cepheus in desperation consulted the Oracle named Ammon who said that only by the sacrifice of the pincess Andromeda could the kingdom be saved. In great sorrow the King Cepheus had his daughter Andromeda chained to a rock by the shore of the sea. The King and Queen waited for the sea-monster Cetus to appear from the depths and devour their beautiful daughter in order to placate the Nereids and the sea-god Poseidon.

Meanwhile the hero Perseus was returning after slaying the Medusa. He was riding the winged horse Pegasus and had a magical sword, shield and helmet as well as the horrifying head of the Medusa in a leather pouch. The Medusa head could turn any living being to stone if they should see it.

Looking down from above Perseus saw the lovely Andromeda chained to the rock, and instantly he was determined to rescue her. As he neared the rock where Andromeda was crying in despair, the sea-monster Cetus emerged from the depths and was about to devour Perseus and his flying horse Pegasus in one gulp. Perseus quickly removed the Medusa's head from his pouch and being careful not to look at the face he held it up for the sea-monster to see. The sea-monster Cetus was immediately turned to stone. Perseus then freed Andromeda from her chains and the two suddenly fell in love. After some difficulties they were married and lived happily ever after.

As a lesson to humanity, Poseidon placed the four characters of the Royal Family in the northern sky, but as a further punishment Cassiopeia was placed in a chair that appears to be upside down in relation to the north pole. Cassiopeia spins giddily around the north pole.

Poseidon also placed the winged-horse Pegasus in the northern sky, but placed Cetus the sea-monster in the southern celestial sky.

The story of the Royal Family provides some insight into the interpretation of the Court cards. The Kings portray men with responsibility. The Queens portray women with power and influence. The Knights show adventure, bravery and attention to duties. The Pages portray women or young people in difficult situations.

The court cards are modified by their suits and are interpreted with consideration of the suit characteristics. The following is a summary of the stories about the court cards.

The King may be seen in the heavens as Cepheus the King, who had to sacrifice his daughter Andromeda to the Sea-Dragon Cetus because his wife Cassiopeia claimed that she and her daughter were more beautiful than the Nereids, or even Hera the Queen of Heaven. The King is a symbol of the responsibility that we must take for others.

The Queen may be seen in the stars as Cassiopeia, the Queen whose vain boast of beauty greater than the Queen of Heaven almost brought disaster to the kingdom. The Queen is a symbol of those careless actions that invite disaster.

The Knight may be seen in the stars of Perseus, who rescued Andromeda from the Sea-dragon Cetus. Perseus rode the winged horse Pegasus and turned the dragon to stone by showing it the Medusa head. The Knight is a symbol of courage in the face of danger and adventure.

The Page or Princess may be seen in the stars of Andromeda, the maiden who was chained to a rock in a sacrifice to Cetus the sea-monster. Andromeda was rescued by Perseus, the Knight of the Tarot. The Page is a symbol of a younger person who may need assistance of some kind.