Five of Swords
The Five of Swords depicts a victory achieved through deceit, emphasizing the pain and lasting consequence of a hollow triumph. In the mythic scene Set overthrows his brother Osiris and gloats over Isis, who appears inconsolable yet ultimately capable of bringing about Set's downfall. Upright, the card warns of surrender, betrayal, bullying, violence, and crime and urges awareness of the moral cost of victory. Reversed, it points toward resolution, compromise, sacrifice, peace, and justice, suggesting healing, restitution, or a restored balance.
Keywords
Card Title
Five of Swords
Character
Osiris, Set, and Isis
Origin
Egypt, Egyptian Mythology
Description
The Five of Swords represents a fight won through deceit. Set overthrows his brother Osiris and is seen gloating over his brother's inconsolable wife, Isis. While Set represents a tyrant or a victor, Isis is a defeated combatant who will eventually bring about Set's defeat.
Upright
Surrender, betrayal, bullying, violence, crime
Reverse
Resolution, compromise, sacrifice, peace, justice
Visual Description
A seated figure with a black, birdlike or jackal-like head wears a striped headdress and holds a curved, red-tipped sword. Four matching curved swords are planted vertically in front of the throne, their hilts visible, while a robed woman kneels in the foreground with her face buried in her hands and a solar disk crown atop her head. Lush stylized reeds or palms form a green band behind the figures, and a small bird flies against a warm, coral sky with a glowing sun. The palette is dominated by coral, teal and gold tones and the scene is framed by decorative white borders.
Tarot of the Divine
💜 Please support creators. Buy official decks.
ℹ️ Disclaimer
All card images and descriptions are taken from public sources. They are used for review purposes only. All rights to these images and descriptions belong to their creators. If you believe there is a copyright infringement, please contact us at [email protected].