The Origins of the Tarot De Marseilles

arcana:

I. The Magician,

II. The High Priestess

III. The Empress

IIII. The Emperor *

V. The Pope

VI. The Lovers

VII. The Chariot

VIII. Justice

VIIII. The Hermit *

X. The Wheel of Fortune

XI. Strength

XII. The Hanged Man

XIII. Death (or The Noname Arcana)

XIIII. Temperance *

XV. The Devil

XVI. The Tower

XVII. The Star,

XVIII. The Moon,

XVIIII. The Sun *,

XX. Judgement,

XXI. The World,

XXII. The Fool **

* for example, classification “IIII” and not “IV” highlights the progression of the Tarot de Marseilles play.

** The Fool is the 22nd arcana but is generally not numbered.

The 56 minor arcana are split into four suits:

– Spears,

– Cups,

– Coins,

– Swords;

which include each 14 cards that are numbered from 1 to 10, or Ace through 10 and 4 noble cards ; which are: the Page, the Knight, the Queen and the King.

During the Middle-Ages and later, these suits were associated with the social classes: Coins with the Traders, Cups with the Clergy, Swords with the Nobility and Spears with the Peasants.

Pages: 1 2