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[[Image:lighterstill.jpg]][[Image:Jean_Dodal_Tarot_trump_09.jpg|frame|''Le Bateleur'', "The Mountebank," the first trump in the Tarot de Marseille.]]

The '''Tarot of Marseilles''' (or '''Tarot of Marseille'''), also widely known by the French designation '''''Tarot de Marseille''''', is one of the standard patterns for the design of [[tarot]] cards.  It is a pattern from which many subsequent tarot decks derive.

The '''Tarot of Marseilles''' (or '''Tarot of Marseille'''), also widely known by the French designation '''''Tarot de Marseille''''', is one of the standard patterns for the design of [[tarot]] cards.  It is a pattern from which many subsequent tarot decks derive.

==Origins of the Tarot==

==Origins of the Tarot==

[[Michael Dummett]]'s research led him to conclude that - based on the lack of earlier documentary evidence - the Tarot deck was probably invented in northern [[Italy]] in the fifteenth century. Other scholars who disagree with that theory point to a medieval origin of the game. For the moment, it is ascertained that tarot cards were introduced into southern France from northern Italy when the French conquered [[Milan]] and the [[Piedmont]] in 1499.  The antecedents of the Tarot de Marseille would then have been introduced into southern France at around that time.  The [[tarot (game)|game of tarot]] died out in Italy but survived in France and [[Switzerland]]. When the game was reintroduced into northern Italy, the Marseille designs of the cards were also reintroduced to that region.

[[Michael Dummett]]'s research led him to conclude that - based on the lack of earlier documentary evidence - the Tarot deck was probably invented in northern [[Italy]] in the fifteenth century. Other scholars who disagree with that theory point to a medieval origin of the game. For the moment, it is ascertained that tarot cards were introduced into southern France from northern Italy when the French conquered [[Milan]] and the [[Piedmont]] in 1499.  The antecedents of the Tarot de Marseille would then have been introduced into southern France at around that time.  The [[tarot (game)|game of tarot]] died out in Italy but survived in France and [[Switzerland]]. When the game was reintroduced into northern Italy, the Marseille designs of the cards were also reintroduced to that region.

==Tarot de Marseille==

==Tarot de Marseille==

In the Tarot de Marseille, as is standard among Italian suited playing cards, the [[pip card]]s in the [[suit of swords]] are drawn as abstract symbols in curved lines, forming a shape reminiscent of a [[mandorla]].  On the even numbered cards, the abstract curved lines are all that is present.  On the odd numbered cards, a single fully rendered sword is rendered inside the abstract designs.  The [[suit of wands]] is drawn as straight objects that cross to form a [[lattice]] in the higher numbers; on odd numbered wands cards, a single vertical wand runs through the middle of the lattice.  On the tens of both swords and batons, two fully rendered objects appear imposed on the abstract designs.<ref>Sedillot, below, pl. 1-4.</ref>  The straight lined wands and the curved swords continue the tradition of [[Mamluk]] playing cards, in which the swords represented [[scimitar]]s and the wands [[polo mallet]]s.<ref>Huson</ref>

In the Tarot de Marseille, as is standard among Italian suited playing cards, the [[pip card]]s in the [[suit of swords]] are drawn as abstract symbols in curved lines, forming a shape reminiscent of a [[mandorla]].  On the even numbered cards, the abstract curved lines are all that is present.  On the odd numbered cards, a single fully rendered sword is rendered inside the abstract designs.  The [[suit of wands]] is drawn as straight objects that cross to form a [[lattice]] in the higher numbers; on odd numbered wands cards, a single vertical wand runs through the middle of the lattice.  On the tens of both swords and batons, two fully rendered objects appear imposed on the abstract designs.<ref>Sedillot, below, pl. 1-4.</ref>  The straight lined wands and the curved swords continue the tradition of [[Mamluk]] playing cards, in which the swords represented [[scimitar]]s and the wands [[polo mallet]]s.<ref>Huson</ref>

 

In this abstraction, the Tarot, and the Italian playing card tradition, diverges from that of [[Spanish playing card]]s, in which swords and batons are drawn as distinct objects.  [[Suit of cups|Cups]] and [[suit of pentacles|coins]] are drawn as distinct objects.  Most decks fill up blank areas of the cards with floral decorations.  The [[two of cups]] typically contains a floral [[caduceus]]-like symbol terminating in two [[heraldry|heraldic]] [[dolphin]] heads.  The [[two of pentacles|two of coins]] usually joins the two coins by a ribbon motif; the ribbon is a conventional place for the manufacturer to include his name and the date.<ref>Sedillot, op. cit., plates 1-2.</ref>

In this abstraction, the Tarot, and the Italian playing card tradition, diverges from that of [[Spanish playing card]]s, in which swords and batons are drawn as distinct objects.  [[Suit of cups|Cups]] and [[suit of pentacles|coins]] are drawn as distinct objects.  Most decks fill up blank areas of the cards with floral decorations.  The [[two of cups]] typically contains a floral [[caduceus]]-like symbol terminating in two [[heraldry|heraldic]] [[dolphin]] heads.  The [[two of pentacles|two of coins]] usually joins the two coins by a ribbon motif; the ribbon is a conventional place for the manufacturer to include his name and the date.<ref>Sedillot, op. cit., plates 1-2.</ref>

There are also the standard twenty-two [[trump]] cards. At times, the Fool, which is unnumbered in the Tarot de Marseille, is viewed as separate and additional to the other twenty-one numbered trumps. Occultists (and many tarotists nowadays) call these twenty-two cards the ''Atouts'' ([[Trump (card game)|Trumps]]), ''Les Lames Majeures de Figures'' (The Major Figure Cards) or ''Arcanes Majeures'' ([[major arcana]]) in French.

There are also the standard twenty-two [[trump]] cards. At times, the Fool, which is unnumbered in the Tarot de Marseille, is viewed as separate and additional to the other twenty-one numbered trumps. Occultists (and many tarotists nowadays) call these twenty-two cards the ''Atouts'' ([[Trump (card game)|Trumps]]), ''Les Lames Majeures de Figures'' (The Major Figure Cards) or ''Arcanes Majeures'' (major arcana) in French.

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Others offer redrawn decks based on the old models.  Grimaud is perhaps the best known such maker; their deck was designed by Paul Marteau, mentioned above.  The Spanish firm [[Naipes Heraclio Fournier|Fournier]] prints an edition.  Lo Scarabeo prints a version based on a 1751 Swiss deck by Claude Burdel, with an unwarranted alteration that sees a 'zero' added upon the Fou ISBN 0-7387-0011-8 (But see Stuart Kaplan, Encyclopedia of Tarot Vol. II, page 327, which shows a 1750 Swiss deck by Rochus Schär. The Schär deck's Le Mat card is numbered with a zero). U.S. Games / [[Cartamundi]] also printed a version based on the 1701 Dodal Tarot de Marseille, but unfortunately that version has recently gone out of print.

Others offer redrawn decks based on the old models.  Grimaud is perhaps the best known such maker; their deck was designed by Paul Marteau, mentioned above.  The Spanish firm [[Naipes Heraclio Fournier|Fournier]] prints an edition.  Lo Scarabeo prints a version based on a 1751 Swiss deck by Claude Burdel, with an unwarranted alteration that sees a 'zero' added upon the Fou ISBN 0-7387-0011-8 (But see Stuart Kaplan, Encyclopedia of Tarot Vol. II, page 327, which shows a 1750 Swiss deck by Rochus Schär. The Schär deck's Le Mat card is numbered with a zero). U.S. Games / [[Cartamundi]] also printed a version based on the 1701 Dodal Tarot de Marseille, but unfortunately that version has recently gone out of print.

Jean-Claude and Roxanne Flornoy [http://www.tarot-history.com] have also published a careful rendition of the Atouts (Major Arcana) only of both the Noblet and the Dodal decks.

Jean-Claude and Roxanne Flornoy [https://www.tarot-history.com] have also published a careful rendition of the Atouts (Major Arcana) only of both the Noblet and the Dodal decks.

Also, Daniel Rodes and Encarna Sanchez have published a new edition to called The anciens icons of tarot reconstructed about Marseille's Tarot.[http://www.tarotmarsella.com]  

Also, Daniel Rodes and Encarna Sanchez have published a new edition to called The anciens icons of tarot reconstructed about Marseille's Tarot.[https://www.tarotmarsella.com]  

The Dodal deck held in the Bibliotheque Nationale has been photographically published by Dussere, but is now out of print.

The Dodal deck held in the Bibliotheque Nationale has been photographically published by Dussere, but is now out of print.

* ''Mystical Origins of the Tarot'' by [[Paul Huson]] ISBN 0-89281-190-0 – a historically based introduction to [[tarot reading]] and [[divination]].

* ''Mystical Origins of the Tarot'' by [[Paul Huson]] ISBN 0-89281-190-0 – a historically based introduction to [[tarot reading]] and [[divination]].

* ''Ombres et lumières du Tarot'' by Carole Sédillot ISBN 2-7107-0609-1 – Sédillot's personal take on Tarot de Marseille card interpretation and on the 20th century French tradition of esoteric tarot. Sédillot's approach to the minor arcana cards is inspired in many respects by the circa 1930s classic French language book ''Le Tarot de Marseille'' by Paul Marteau.

* ''Ombres et lumières du Tarot'' by Carole Sédillot ISBN 2-7107-0609-1 – Sédillot's personal take on Tarot de Marseille card interpretation and on the 20th century French tradition of esoteric tarot. Sédillot's approach to the minor arcana cards is inspired in many respects by the circa 1930s classic French language book ''Le Tarot de Marseille'' by Paul Marteau.

* ''Tarot Symbolism'' by Robert O'Neill [http://association.tarotstudies.org/publications/symbolism.html ISBN 0-9757122-0-9] (2004 reprint of 1986 original) - an investigation into tarot's symbolism and historical development.

* ''Tarot Symbolism'' by Robert O'Neill [https://association.tarotstudies.org/publications/symbolism.html ISBN 0-9757122-0-9] (2004 reprint of 1986 original) - an investigation into tarot's symbolism and historical development.

===Web sites of interest===

===Web sites of interest===

* [http://association.tarotstudies.org/newsletters/news32.html The Dodal Marseille deck] by Jean-Michel David at the Association for Tarot Studies site

* [https://association.tarotstudies.org/newsletters/news32.html The Dodal Marseille deck] by Jean-Michel David at the Association for Tarot Studies site

* [http://www.tarotmarsella.com  www.tarotmarsella.com] Reconstruction old symbols of Tarot by Daniel Rodes and Encarna Sanchez. Tarot of Marseilles

* [https://www.tarotmarsella.com  www.tarotmarsella.com] Reconstruction old symbols of Tarot by Daniel Rodes and Encarna Sanchez. Tarot of Marseilles

* [http://www.tarothermit.com/marseilles.htm The Marseilles Family] at Tom Tadfor Little's Tarot Hermitage

* [https://www.tarothermit.com/marseilles.htm The Marseilles Family] at Tom Tadfor Little's Tarot Hermitage

* [http://l-pollett.tripod.com/cards43.htm The Marseilles Family] at Andy's Playing Cards [in 3 consecutive parts]

* [https://l-pollett.tripod.com/cards43.htm The Marseilles Family] at Andy's Playing Cards [in 3 consecutive parts]

* [http://www.geocities.com/cartedatrionfi/ Michael's Tarot Notebook] by Michael J. Hurst

* [https://www.geocities.com/cartedatrionfi/ Michael's Tarot Notebook] by Michael J. Hurst

* [http://www.camoin.com/en/hist/index.asp History of the Tarot de Marseille] by Philip Camoin

* [https://www.camoin.com/en/hist/index.asp History of the Tarot de Marseille] by Philip Camoin

* [http://www.villarevak.org/misc/history.html Tarot History] by James W. Revak

* [https://www.villarevak.org/misc/history.html Tarot History] by James W. Revak

* [http://www.tarothistory.com Tarot History] by Robert Mealing (pages on Marseille deck comparisons)

* [https://www.tarothistory.com Tarot History] by Robert Mealing (pages on Marseille deck comparisons)

* [http://tarotchoco.quebecblogue.com/ The secret code of Tarot] The blog de Rom

* [https://tarotchoco.quebecblogue.com/ The secret code of Tarot] The blog de Rom

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* [http://www.tarotforum.net/ Aeclectic's tarotforum] includes a large section for history and Tarot de Marseille discussions

* [https://www.tarotforum.net/ Aeclectic's tarotforum] includes a large section for history and Tarot de Marseille discussions

* [http://www.tarotpedia.com/wiki/Main_Page taropedia.com] A wiki page specialized on Tarot

* [https://www.tarotpedia.com/wiki/Main_Page taropedia.com] A wiki page specialized on Tarot

==Notes==

==Notes==