Pam
06-23-2004, 04:26 PM
I have several books on tarot, and they all give similar versions in varying length, of the history of tarot cards. Here's a snipet from an article that came up in my "tarot news" searches, called "The ancient history of games"
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The playing cards, invented in China or India, come to us as the latest addition from the Middle Ages. They were used as a "war" game like chess and introduced into Europe late in the 14th century. The first law against card playing on workdays (by the working people) dates from 1397.
The organization of a suit of cards with a king, a knight (before the queen was taken into the "devil's prayer book"), a squire (valet), and faceless foot soldiers (the numerals), corresponds to that of a medieval army. The earliest known suit signs were representations of the four classes of medieval society: swords (noblemen), cups (chalices for the clergy), coins for the burghers, and staves-for peasants. These suit signs were preserved in Spanish and Italian decks of cards. The suit signs familiar to us: spades, hearts, diamonds and clubs, were introduced in the early 15th century, allegedly invented by the French knight Etienne de Vignerolles, who was a battle companion of Joan of Arc. These suit signs also represent classes: spades (from the Spanish espada, sword for noblemen); hearts for clergy; diamonds (in French carreau, the head of the crossbow for burghers with their archers' guilds); and clubs for peasants. German suit signs were interpreted as a hunt, not a war game: acorns, linden leaves, hearts, and hawks' bells. The wild boar, stag, unicorn, and falcon identified the deuces.
Poker was developed in Switzerland, which in the 15th and 16th centuries, was the main supplier of mercenary soldiers, who were also notorious as hardened gamblers. The German suit signs were modified as shields, roses, acorns, and bells. The aces were banners.
Taro tarocchi came from Italy. In addition to court cards and numerals, the tarot has a third set of cards, the trionfi (trumps). In the 18th century, trumps played an important role in fortune telling: the triumph of Love over Man, of Chastity over Love, of Death over Chastity, of Fame over Death, of Time over Fame, and of Eternity over Time.
Originally, playing cards were hand-painted, but after the middle of the 15th century, printed packs (woodcut and engraving) often designed by famous artist (Andrea Mantegna, Martin Schongauer, and Israhel van Meckenem) were mass-produced
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http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?BRD=2256&dept_id=457701&newsid=12068378&PAG=461&rfi=9
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The playing cards, invented in China or India, come to us as the latest addition from the Middle Ages. They were used as a "war" game like chess and introduced into Europe late in the 14th century. The first law against card playing on workdays (by the working people) dates from 1397.
The organization of a suit of cards with a king, a knight (before the queen was taken into the "devil's prayer book"), a squire (valet), and faceless foot soldiers (the numerals), corresponds to that of a medieval army. The earliest known suit signs were representations of the four classes of medieval society: swords (noblemen), cups (chalices for the clergy), coins for the burghers, and staves-for peasants. These suit signs were preserved in Spanish and Italian decks of cards. The suit signs familiar to us: spades, hearts, diamonds and clubs, were introduced in the early 15th century, allegedly invented by the French knight Etienne de Vignerolles, who was a battle companion of Joan of Arc. These suit signs also represent classes: spades (from the Spanish espada, sword for noblemen); hearts for clergy; diamonds (in French carreau, the head of the crossbow for burghers with their archers' guilds); and clubs for peasants. German suit signs were interpreted as a hunt, not a war game: acorns, linden leaves, hearts, and hawks' bells. The wild boar, stag, unicorn, and falcon identified the deuces.
Poker was developed in Switzerland, which in the 15th and 16th centuries, was the main supplier of mercenary soldiers, who were also notorious as hardened gamblers. The German suit signs were modified as shields, roses, acorns, and bells. The aces were banners.
Taro tarocchi came from Italy. In addition to court cards and numerals, the tarot has a third set of cards, the trionfi (trumps). In the 18th century, trumps played an important role in fortune telling: the triumph of Love over Man, of Chastity over Love, of Death over Chastity, of Fame over Death, of Time over Fame, and of Eternity over Time.
Originally, playing cards were hand-painted, but after the middle of the 15th century, printed packs (woodcut and engraving) often designed by famous artist (Andrea Mantegna, Martin Schongauer, and Israhel van Meckenem) were mass-produced
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http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?BRD=2256&dept_id=457701&newsid=12068378&PAG=461&rfi=9