Where Tarot Comes From: Etymology and the Visconti-Sforza Deck

The Earliest Tarot Decks

Among the surviving tarot decks from the 15th century, the Visconti-Sforza decks are considered the earliest verifiable tarot system. In 1975, the restoration of the Piermont Morgan-Bergamo — one of the most complete tarot decks in existence today, with cards held at the Piermont Morgan Library in New York, the Carrara Academy in Bergamo (Italy), and the Colleoni family collection — became a significant event in tarot collecting and art history research circles.

Italy is known as the birthplace of the earliest tarot decks, with the Major Arcana filled with mystical symbolism and allegorical imagery. The 22 cards of the Major Arcana, with their intricate symbolic system, continue to attract art historians, artists, and those exploring esoteric traditions.

The Development of Tarot Versions

Deck designers and illustrators typically preserved the core symbolic system of the Major Arcana while adding subtle refinements to reflect the spirit of their age, historical events, and the important issues of their time.

From 15th-century masters like Bonifacio Bembo to modern artists such as Salvador Dalí and Larry Rivers, alongside talented creators including:

• Pamela Colman Smith (Rider-Waite Deck)
• Frieda Harris (Crowley's Thoth Deck)
• Fergus Hall (James Bond 007 Tarot Deck)
• David Palladini (Aquarius Tarot Deck)
• Domenico Barbi (Barbi Tarot Deck)

...their works have become prominent representatives of hundreds of refined tarot versions, preserved in museums, libraries, and private collections around the world.

From Trionfi to Tarot: The Journey of a Term

From tarot's earliest days in Italy, the development of the tarot symbolic system is a compelling story of cultural evolution.

Names Across Time

From the 15th century, the term "Trionfi" (meaning "triumphs" or "crowns") was used in Italy to refer to the 22 Major Arcana. By the early 16th century, the term "tarocchi" began to be used widely in Italy:

• Initially, it referred only to the 22 Major Arcana
• Later, the word expanded to encompass all 78 cards (22 Major Arcana + 56 Minor Arcana)

Although "tarocchi" and "tarocco" are often used interchangeably, the first is the plural form of the second. The French word "Tarot" (a variant of the Italian "tarocchi") has now become the international term in common use.

In English, the "t" at the end of "tarot" is not pronounced.

Etymological Interpretations

MacGregor Mathers's Theory (1858)

Scholar MacGregor Mathers proposed that the word "taro" might be connected to several other words:

• Tora — Hebrew word meaning "Law"
• Troa — Hebrew word meaning "Door"
• Rota — Latin word meaning "Wheel"
• Orat — Latin word meaning "Speak, Debate, or Beseech"
• Taor or Taur — connected to the dark goddess of Egypt
• Ator or Athor — connected to Hathor, the Egyptian goddess of joy

The Terms "Trumps" and "Arcana"

The term "trumps" originates from the Latin "triumphis." Each trump card (also called Major Arcana) contains images of a symbolic or allegorical nature.

"Arcana" is a Latin word meaning "Secrets," and the Italian "arcana" shares the same origin and meaning. In French, trump cards are called "atouts," and in Italian "a tutti" — referring to cards of higher value than others.

Other Interpretations

Some scholars believe "tarot" comes from "tarotée" — a term describing patterns of alternating solid and dotted lines on the back of the earliest cards. However, "tarotée" may itself have originated from the earlier-appearing "tarocchi."

In 1594, in the guild statutes of Parisian card makers, the craftspeople called themselves "tarotiers" — another variant of the word "tarot."

The Egyptian Theory and the Holy Paths

Antoine Court de Gébelin (Late 18th Century)

In the late 18th century, scholar Antoine Court de Gébelin, in his multi-volume work "The Primordial World," proposed that the word "tarot" originated from Egyptian:

• "Tar" = Path
• "Ro," "Ros," or "Rog" = King, Royal

Nancy Fullwood (1929)

In 1929, Nancy Fullwood interpreted tarot as "Holy Path" and systematized evidence for the existence of seven Holy Paths — these paths being both dimensions of existence and fundamental forces governing life:

• Phanotarot — the vibration of the spiritual mind resonating throughout the universe
• Tanotarot — the power of material abundance in resonance
• Satnotarot — creating the power of enlightenment
• Lanotarot — forming the power of trust
• Ganotarot — activating the power of universal love
• Onotarot — the vibratory frequency of the power of hope

These seven tarot systems together form a great path through which the gods guide spiritual seekers.

Tarot Today

These symbolically and allegorically rich cards continue to capture public imagination. Tarot, with its unique appeal, has fascinated explorers from many walks of life, economic backgrounds, and professional fields.

Understanding the history and terminology behind these cards helps us approach them more deeply—not as an absolute divination tool, but as a toolkit for self-reflection and personal exploration.

Reference: zhihu.com — Tarot from the Beginning: An Analysis of Tarot Terminology