The Tarot has a
fragmented history that intrigues historians, scholars, hobbyists, and
spiritualists alike. Drawing on the concrete facts that are available, we will
attempt to briefly explain the origins of the Tarot, and trace some of its
milestones through the centuries.
The designs of
the 22 cards in the Major Arcana can be traced back as far as 1440, when the
first known deck appeared in Italy.
The 3 decks called the "Visconti Trumps" are generally regarded as
the "forefathers" of the decks that are widely available today. It is
believed that they were originally created as a game for Nobles. It is not
until centuries later that the cards reemerged, this time as a tool of
divination. In the latter half of the 15th century, the cardmakers in Marseilles, France
began to standardize the Trumps. Before this organized production, those who
played the Trumps could dictate which they wanted to include, and which they
wanted substituted or eliminated. Certain cards; Death, the Devil, and the
Tower in particular; were considered offensive by the more conservative Nobles.
These images caused religious leaders to attempt to ban the Trumps.
