Tarot Mythology

The Surprising Origins Of The World's Most Misunderstood Cards

The earliest known tarot decks weren't designed with mysticism in mind; they were actually meant for playing a game similar to modern-day bridge. Wealthy families in 16th-century Italy commissioned expensive, artist-made decks known as 'carte da trionfi.' These cards were marked with suits of cups, swords, coins, and polo sticks, and courts consisting of a king and two male underlings. Tarot cards later incorporated queens, trumps, and the Fool to this system.
Collectors Weekly interviewed graphic designer and artist Bill Wolf among others, whose interest in tarot dates to his art-school days at Cooper Union in New York.