Changes

[[Image:lighterstill.jpg]]

[[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.

<center>

<center>

{| border="0" width="70%"

{| border="0" width="70%"