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[[File:Tarot de Marseille.jpg|300px|thumb|Sheet of Tarot cards from the [[Tarot de Marseille]] by Jean Dodal]] | [[File:Tarot de Marseille.jpg|300px|thumb|Sheet of Tarot cards from the [[Tarot de Marseille]] by Jean Dodal]] | ||
The '''Tarot''' (/ˈtæroʊ/, first known as [[trionfi]] and later as '''tarocchi''' or '''tarock''') is a pack of | The '''Tarot''' (/ˈtæroʊ/, first known as [[trionfi]] and later as '''tarocchi''' or '''tarock''') is a pack of playing cards, used from at least the mid-15th century in various parts of Europe to play games such as Italian ''tarocchini'', French Tarot and Austrian ''Königrufen'', many of which are still played today. | ||
In the late 18th century, some Tarot decks began to be used for [[divination]], leading to custom decks developed for such [[occult]] purposes. | |||
Like the common playing cards, Tarot has four suits which vary by region: French suits in Northern Europe, Latin suits in Southern Europe, and German suits in Central Europe. Each suit has 14 cards: ten pip cards numbering from one (or Ace) to ten, and four face cards (King, Queen, Knight, and Jack/Knave/Page). In addition, the tarot has a separate 21-card trump suit and a single card known as [[The Fool]]; this 22-card section of the tarot deck is known in divinatory circles as the [[Major Arcana]]. Depending on the game, The Fool may act as the top trump or may be played to avoid following suit. These tarot cards are still used throughout much of Europe to play conventional card games without [[occult]] associations. | Like the common playing cards, Tarot has four suits which vary by region: French suits in Northern Europe, Latin suits in Southern Europe, and German suits in Central Europe. Each suit has 14 cards: ten pip cards numbering from one (or Ace) to ten, and four face cards (King, Queen, Knight, and Jack/Knave/Page). In addition, the tarot has a separate 21-card trump suit and a single card known as [[The Fool]]; this 22-card section of the tarot deck is known in divinatory circles as the [[Major Arcana]]. Depending on the game, The Fool may act as the top trump or may be played to avoid following suit. These tarot cards are still used throughout much of Europe to play conventional card games without [[occult]] associations. | ||
Among English-speaking countries where these games are not played frequently, tarot cards are used primarily for novelty and divinatory purposes, usually using specially designed packs. Some who use tarot for cartomancy believe that the cards have esoteric links to ancient Egypt, the [[Kabbalah]], Indian Tantra, or the [[I Ching]], though scholarly research has demonstrated that tarot cards were invented in northern Italy in the 15th century and confirmed that there is no historical evidence of the usage of tarot for divination before the late 18th century. | Among English-speaking countries where these games are not played frequently, tarot cards are used primarily for novelty and divinatory purposes, usually using specially designed packs. Some who use tarot for [[cartomancy]] believe that the cards have esoteric links to [[Egyptian religion|ancient Egypt]], the [[Kabbalah]], Indian Tantra, or the [[I Ching]], though scholarly research has demonstrated that tarot cards were invented in northern Italy in the 15th century and confirmed that there is no historical evidence of the usage of tarot for divination before the late 18th century. | ||
==Playing cards in Europe== | ==Playing cards in Europe== | ||
[[File:The Cary Sheet.jpg|300px|thumb|[[The Cary Sheet]] (1600s)]] | [[File:The Cary Sheet.jpg|300px|thumb|[[The Cary Sheet]] (1600s)]] | ||
Playing cards first entered Europe in the late 14th century, but the origin is unknown. The first records date to 1367 in Berne and they appear to have spread very rapidly across the whole of Europe, as may be seen from the records, mainly of card games being banned | Playing cards first entered Europe in the late 14th century, but the origin is unknown. The first records date to 1367 in Berne and they appear to have spread very rapidly across the whole of Europe, as may be seen from the records, mainly of card games being banned. | ||
One early pattern of playing cards that evolved was one with the suits of Batons or Clubs, Coins, Swords, and Cups. These suits are still used in traditional Italian, Spanish and Portuguese playing card decks, but have also been adapted in packs used specifically for tarot divination cards that first appeared in the late 18th century. | One early pattern of playing cards that evolved was one with the suits of Batons or Clubs, Coins, Swords, and Cups. These suits are still used in traditional Italian, Spanish and Portuguese playing card decks, but have also been adapted in packs used specifically for tarot divination cards that first appeared in the late 18th century. | ||
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The oldest surviving tarot cards are the 15 or so [[Visconti-Sforza Tarot]] decks painted in the mid-15th century for the rulers of the Duchy of Milan. A lost tarot-like pack was commissioned by Duke Filippo Maria Visconti and described by Martiano da Tortona probably between 1418 and 1425, since the painter he mentions, Michelino da Besozzo, returned to Milan in 1418, while Martiano himself died in 1425. He described a 60-card deck with 16 cards having images of the Roman gods and suits depicting four kinds of birds. The 16 cards were regarded as "trumps" since in 1449 Jacopo Antonio Marcello recalled that the now deceased duke had invented a ''novum quoddam et exquisitum triumphorum genus'', or "a new and exquisite kind of triumphs". Other early decks that also showcased classical motifs include the Sola-Busca and Boiardo-Viti decks of the 1490s. | The oldest surviving tarot cards are the 15 or so [[Visconti-Sforza Tarot]] decks painted in the mid-15th century for the rulers of the Duchy of Milan. A lost tarot-like pack was commissioned by Duke Filippo Maria Visconti and described by Martiano da Tortona probably between 1418 and 1425, since the painter he mentions, Michelino da Besozzo, returned to Milan in 1418, while Martiano himself died in 1425. He described a 60-card deck with 16 cards having images of the Roman gods and suits depicting four kinds of birds. The 16 cards were regarded as "trumps" since in 1449 Jacopo Antonio Marcello recalled that the now deceased duke had invented a ''novum quoddam et exquisitum triumphorum genus'', or "a new and exquisite kind of triumphs". Other early decks that also showcased classical motifs include the Sola-Busca and Boiardo-Viti decks of the 1490s. | ||
In Florence, an expanded deck called Minchiate was used. This deck of 97 cards includes astrological symbols and the four elements, as well as traditional tarot motifs. | In Florence, an expanded deck called ''Minchiate'' was used. This deck of 97 cards includes astrological symbols and the four elements, as well as traditional tarot motifs. | ||
Although a Dominican | Although a Dominican friar preached against the evil inherent in cards (because of their use in gambling) in a sermon in the 15th century, no routine condemnations of tarot were found during its early history. | ||
Because the earliest tarot cards were hand-painted, the number of the decks produced is thought to have been small. It was only after the invention of the printing press that mass production of cards became possible. The expansion of tarot outside of Italy, first to France and Switzerland, occurred during the Italian Wars. The most important tarot pattern used in these two countries was the Tarot of Marseilles of Milanese origin. | Because the earliest tarot cards were hand-painted, the number of the decks produced is thought to have been small. It was only after the invention of the printing press that mass production of cards became possible. The expansion of tarot outside of Italy, first to France and Switzerland, occurred during the Italian Wars. The most important tarot pattern used in these two countries was the Tarot of Marseilles of Milanese origin. | ||
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==Etymology== | ==Etymology== | ||
[[File:Visconti-Example.jpg|350px|thumb|The Visconti Tarot]] | [[File:Visconti-Example.jpg|350px|thumb|The Visconti Tarot]] | ||
The word ''Tarot'' and German Tarock derive from the Italian Tarocchi, the origin of which is uncertain but taroch was used as a synonym for foolishness in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. The decks were known exclusively as Trionfi during the fifteenth century. The new name first appeared in Brescia around 1502 as Tarocho. During the 16th century, a new game played with a standard deck but sharing a very similar name (Trionfa) was quickly becoming popular. This coincided with the older game being renamed tarocchi. | The word ''Tarot'' and German Tarock derive from the Italian ''Tarocchi'', the origin of which is uncertain but ''taroch'' was used as a synonym for foolishness in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. The decks were known exclusively as [[Trionfi]] during the fifteenth century. The new name first appeared in Brescia around 1502 as Tarocho. During the 16th century, a new game played with a standard deck but sharing a very similar name (''Trionfa'') was quickly becoming popular. This coincided with the older game being renamed tarocchi. | ||
In modern Italian, the singular term is Tarocco, which, as a noun, refers to a cultivar of blood orange. The attribute Tarocco and the verb Taroccare are used regionally to indicate that something is fake or forged. This meaning is directly derived from the tarocchi game as played in Italy, in which tarocco indicates a card that can be played in place of another card. | In modern Italian, the singular term is Tarocco, which, as a noun, refers to a cultivar of blood orange. The attribute Tarocco and the verb Taroccare are used regionally to indicate that something is fake or forged. This meaning is directly derived from the tarocchi game as played in Italy, in which tarocco indicates a card that can be played in place of another card. | ||
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The three most common decks used for divination are the [[Tarot of Marseilles]], the [[Rider-Waite Tarot]] deck, and the [[Thoth Tarot]] deck. | The three most common decks used for divination are the [[Tarot of Marseilles]], the [[Rider-Waite Tarot]] deck, and the [[Thoth Tarot]] deck. | ||
[[Aleister Crowley]], who devised the [[Thoth Tarot]] deck along with Lady Frieda Harris, stated of the tarot: "The origin of this pack of cards is very obscure. Some authorities seek to put it back as far as the ancient Egyptian Mysteries; others try to bring it forward as late as the fifteenth or even the sixteenth century ... [but] The only theory of ultimate interest about the Tarot is that it is an admirable symbolic picture of the Universe, based on the data of the [[Kabbalah|Holy Qabalah]]." | [[Aleister Crowley]], who devised the [[Thoth Tarot]] deck along with Lady Frieda Harris, stated of the tarot: "The origin of this pack of cards is very obscure. Some authorities seek to put it back as far as the ancient [[Egyptian religion|Egyptian Mysteries]]; others try to bring it forward as late as the fifteenth or even the sixteenth century ... [but] The only theory of ultimate interest about the Tarot is that it is an admirable symbolic picture of the Universe, based on the data of the [[Kabbalah|Holy Qabalah]]." | ||
Some Tarot decks designed for divination depart from the traditional structure and naming conventions of the Tarot. For example, the 1911 French deck, [[Tarot de la Reyne]], contains 120 cards with seven suits of seven cards; while the 2020 [[Hieronymus Bosch Tarot]] has eight suits of seven cards each. | Some Tarot decks designed for divination depart from the traditional structure and naming conventions of the Tarot. For example, the 1911 French deck, [[Tarot de la Reyne]], contains 120 cards with seven suits of seven cards; while the 2020 [[Hieronymus Bosch Tarot]] has eight suits of seven cards each. | ||