Early History: Playing Cards in Renaissance Italy
The tarot originated as a card game in northern Italy in the early 15th century. The first known tarot deck was created for the Visconti-Sforza family in Milan around 1440. These early decks had four suits and a trump suit that included allegorical figures.
The game was called tarocchi, and the trump cards were known as trionfi. The imagery was largely secular, depicting social classes, virtues, and vices. The tarot was entertainment, not divination.
The French Tarot & the Tarot Nouveau
The tarot spread to France and Switzerland, where the game evolved into Tarot Nouveau. The French added numbered pips to the suits, making the deck more accessible. The trumps were renumbered and reorganized, and the game became widely popular across Europe.
The Occult Transformation: Eliphas Levi & Papus
The tarot's transformation into a divination tool began in the late 18th century. Jean-Baptiste Alliette, known as Etteilla, created the first tarot deck specifically designed for divination. Later, Eliphas Levi connected the tarot to the Kabbalah, and Papus formalized the occult tarot tradition.
The Rider-Waite-Smith Revolution
In 1909, Arthur Edward Waite and artist Pamela Colman Smith created the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, which revolutionized tarot by illustrating all 78 cards, including the Minor Arcana. This visual approach made the cards accessible without requiring extensive knowledge of numerology and suit associations.
The Modern Era: Deconstructor & Contemporary Decks
The 20th and 21st centuries saw an explosion of tarot innovation. Alejandro Jodorowsky and Marianne Costa created the Jodorowsky Tarot, a deeply psychological deck. The Thoth Tarot, designed by Aleister Crowley, brought astrological and Kabbalistic correspondences to the forefront. Contemporary decks continue to expand tarot's boundaries with diverse imagery and inclusive themes.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Was the tarot always used for divination?
No. The tarot began as a card game in Renaissance Italy and did not become associated with divination until the late 18th century.
Who created the first tarot deck?
The earliest known tarot decks were created for the Visconti-Sforza family in Milan around 1440.
Is the Rider-Waite-Smith deck historically accurate?
It is not historically accurate as a recreation of the original tarot, but it is historically significant as the deck that transformed tarot into a visual divination tool.
Related Resources
References
- Pollack, M. 78 Degrees of Wisdom.
- McCann, R. The Tarot: History, Symbolism, and Divination.
- Gray, E. The Complete Guide to the Tarot.
- Kamen, M. Deck and Table.
- Depaulis, T. Tarot: A History of the Cards.