A Brief History of Tarot
Tarot Timeline
c. 1440 Tarot as we know it emerges in northern Italy, likely in Milan or Ferrara.
1440 - 1500 Tarot cards are used by members of the Italian Renaissance court.
1500 - 1650 Tarot becomes a popular gambling game in taverns across Italy.
1650 - 1750 The Marseille Tarot style spreads across Europe, setting a visual standard.
1750 - 1900 Tarot evolves into a tool for divination, explored and refined by occultists.
1900 - 1910 The British secret society Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn codifies Tarot meanings.
1909 Publication of the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot deck sets a new standard in Tarot symbolism.
1970 - Today Tarot experiences a global surge in popularity, with countless new decks created and accessible to all enthusiasts.
The Tarot's story is really intriguing - from its mysterious beginnings and the once-secretive aura around the cards to how they've evolved over centuries.
Fortune-telling, soothsaying, and predicting the future have ancient roots, making it tough to pinpoint the exact origins of Tarot. Some theories suggest it has Egyptian origins, linking the word "Tarot" with "Ta-Rosh," an ancient Egyptian term meaning "royal way." There are also connections to the Hebrew word "Torah," meaning "law" and the title of the Jewish holy book, hinting at a link between Tarot and the mystical Jewish system of Kabbalah.
Game-Changer
While the earliest playing cards originated in 9th-century China, Tarot cards as we know them today made their debut in northern Italy during the 15th century. It's believed that the inspiration for these cards came from Chinese decks brought by merchants traveling along the Spice Routes. These extensive trade networks stretched from Japan through Indonesia, India, the Middle East, and into Europe via the Mediterranean.
The oldest surviving Tarot cards are exquisite hand-painted pieces created for wealthy Italian nobles during the time of Leonardo da Vinci (1452 - 1519). Notable figures like Francesco I Sforza (1401 - 1466), Duke of Milan, commissioned these cards, leading to the creation of the Visconti-Sforza pack, which remains the oldest known Tarot deck in existence.
Potent Imagery
In early Tarot decks, each suit symbolized a different social class: Swords represented the aristocracy, Cups were associated with churchmen, Pentacles (or coins) symbolized merchants, and Wands (or batons/tools) represented peasants. This suggests that Tarot may have been a tool to impart life's rules and guide noblemen towards virtuous living.
Early writings on Tarot often delve into complex esoteric systems, reserved for a select few who understood their secrets. Renowned occultists like Eliphas Levi (1810 - 1875), Gerard Encausse (1865 - 1916), and AE Waite (1857 - 1942) published books and decks based on these theories, placing Tarot within broader esoteric frameworks where the cards were just one piece of the puzzle.
At the same time, anecdotal accounts reveal that wise women practiced Tarot readings at home using diverse systems and interpretations. While there's little published evidence of these practices, it's believed that Tarot knowledge was passed down orally, often from mother to daughter or between trusted individuals outside scholarly circles.
Today, the history of Tarot continues to evolve with each reading, adapting and growing alongside human experience. Like a river flowing through time, the study of Tarot remains dynamic, reflecting and shaping our understanding of life's mysteries.
At A Glance
Early Tarot decks had quite a bit of variation in the names, sequence, and even the number of cards in the Arcana.
The oldest surviving deck, the Visconti-Sforza (or Viscount), was painted around 1450 by Bonifacio Bembo, an Italian Renaissance artist. Today, only 74 cards remain from this deck, with the Devil, Tower, Knight of Coins, and Three of Swords among the missing cards.
Initially played in the courts of northern Italy, Tarot eventually gained popularity with the general public.
Early records refer to the Tarot deck as 'carte da trionfi,' meaning cards with triumphs (or trumps) added. Around 1530, the name was changed to 'Tarocchi,' though its exact origin is a bit of a mystery. One theory suggests it may come from the Taro River in Italy.