The Origins and Influence of Tarot Card Culture

# Tarot

## Overview
Tarot is a type of card game that originated in Italy, which later became widely used in divination and the occult sciences.

## Historical Origins
- Originated in Italy and can be historically traced back to the 14th century.
- Initially known as "trionfi", it then developed into "tarocchi" and "tarot".
- Its evolution included Italian "tarocchi", French "Tarot", and German "Tarock".

## Structure of the Deck
- Divided into Major Arcana and Minor Arcana.
- The Major Arcana contains 22 cards, representing various life journeys and spiritual meanings.
- The Minor Arcana includes 56 cards, divided into four suits: wands, cups, swords, and coins.

## Cultural Influence
- Its rich symbolism has made it a subject of study in psychology and symbolism.
- It has associations with astrology and the occult sciences.

## Famous Decks and Designers
- Visconti-Sforza Tarot Cards: One of the oldest tarot decks in medieval Italy.
- Rider-Waite Tarot Cards: Designed by A.E. Waite and Pamela Colman Smith, it is a classic example of modern tarot.

## Applications of Tarot
- Used for games and divination.
- In Europe, tarot is still popular as a game.

## Related Documents
- _The Game of Tarot_ by Michael Dummett
- _A Wicked Pack of Cards: The Origins of the Occult Tarot_ by Ronald Decker, Thierry de Paulis, and Michael Dummett
- _Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom_ by Rachel Pollack

## References
- beliefnet: "Where Do Tarot Cards Come From?"
- Vitali, Andrea: "On the Origin of the Word Tarot"
- Pratesi, Franco: "Italian Cards: New Discoveries"
- Dummett, Michael: "Tarot Cartomancy in Bologna"