Tarot Cards
Major Arcana and Minor Arcana
The tarot (/ˈtæroʊ/, first known as trionfi and later as tarocchi or tarock) is a pack of playing cards,
used from at least the mid-15th century in various parts of Europe to play games such as Italian
tarocchini, French tarot and Austrian Königrufen, many of which are still played today.
In the late 18th century, some tarot decks began to be used for divination via tarot card reading
and cartomancy leading to custom decks developed for such occult purposes.
Like the common playing cards, tarot has four suits which vary by region:
French suits in Northern Europe, Latin suits in Southern Europe, and German suits in Central
Europe. Each suit has 14 cards: ten pip cards numbering from one (or Ace) to ten, and four face
cards (King, Queen, Knight, and Jack/Knave/Page). In addition, the tarot has a separate 21-card
trump suit and a single card known as the Fool; this 22-card section of the tarot deck is known in
divinatory circles as the Major Arcana. Depending on the game, the Fool may act as the top trump
or may be played to avoid following suit. These tarot cards are still used throughout much of
Europe to play conventional card games without occult associations.