Tarot History

Tarot History: NOT Out of Egypt

Many tarot enthusiasts claim that tarot cards originated in Ancient Egypt, even suggesting that they were the sole surviving documents from the Great Library of Alexandria fire. But is there any truth to this?

The answer is simple: No.

While the idea of an ancient Egyptian tarot sounds intriguing, it’s a myth with no historical basis. Let’s separate fact from fiction and explore the real history of tarot.

The Egyptian Tarot Myth: Where Did It Come From?

One of the most persistent myths about tarot history is that the cards were brought from Ancient Egypt to Europe by Gypsies. This story didn’t emerge until the 18th century when Antoine Court de Gébelin, a French Freemason, claimed that tarot had Egyptian origins.

🔹 In 1778, de Gébelin published his theory, stating that “Tar” and “Rho” meant “Royal Road” in Ancient Egyptian.

🔹 He insisted that tarot cards contained hidden wisdom passed down from Egyptian priests.

🔹 There was just one small problem: he had no evidence.

In fact, Egyptologists had not yet deciphered Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs when de Gébelin made his claim. The Rosetta Stone, which finally allowed scholars to translate Egyptian writing, wasn’t discovered until 1799—21 years after his tarot theory was published!

The Real History of Tarot Cards

So, if tarot didn’t come from Egypt, where did it originate?

The first known playing cards arrived in Europe in 1375, introduced from Islamic countries, where similar decks had been used for centuries. These early playing cards eventually evolved into the tarot decks we recognize today.

 The Birth of Tarot in Italy (1440s)

The first recorded mention of tarot cards appears in 1440, when the Duke of Milan requested a set of “triumph” cards for courtly entertainment. These decks contained:

✔ Four suits with numbered cards (like modern playing cards)

✔ Court cards: King, Queen, Knight, and Page

✔ 22 additional symbolic picture cards

These extra 22 cards became the Major Arcana, but at the time, they weren’t used for divination—they were trump cards for a game called “triumph”, similar to modern bridge.

By 1530, the game had spread throughout Europe, and the Italian word “tarocchi” (later “tarot”) became the standard name for these decks.

When Did Tarot Become a Divination Tool?

For centuries, tarot remained a card game—not a mystical tool. That changed in 1781, when French and English occultists began reinterpreting the symbolic imagery of tarot as containing hidden esoteric wisdom.

📌 From a game to a tool of divination:

• Occultists in France and England began associating tarot with astrology, Kabbalah, and numerology.

• Writers started publishing guides linking tarot to spiritual insight and fortune-telling.

• Over time, tarot became deeply embedded in Western occult philosophy.

This transformation set the stage for tarot’s modern use as a tool for introspection, guidance, and self-discovery.

Final Thoughts: Tarot’s Evolution, Not Mystery

While the idea of tarot as an ancient Egyptian relic is an alluring myth, history tells a different story. Tarot originated as a card game in Renaissance Italy and only became associated with divination centuries later.

Understanding the true history of tarot makes it even more fascinating—because rather than being a lost Egyptian secret, it’s an evolving system that has adapted to different cultures, beliefs, and practices over time.

Further Reading

🔗 Explore historical tarot decks at The British Museum