Marseille Tarot

Tarot

Definition

A family of historical tarot patterns standardised in 17th- and 18th-century France, recognisable by woodcut-style line art, flat colour and non-illustrated Minor Arcana pips.

Origin

The pattern descends from earlier Milanese and Lyonnaise decks. The earliest dated example is Jean Noblet's 1650 Paris deck; the most influential 18th-century version is Nicolas Conver's 1760 Marseille pack, which gave the tradition its name.

Development

Marseille tarot became the default European deck before being eclipsed in English-speaking countries by the Rider-Waite-Smith. A 20th-century revival led by Paul Marteau, Alejandro Jodorowsky and Camoin-Jodorowsky has restored its scholarly and practical prestige.

In Practice

Because Marseille Minor Arcana are not pictorial, readers rely heavily on the number, suit, and visual details (gesture, gaze, colour) of the figures. Reading is more meditative and less narrative than RWS; spreads tend to be smaller (3–5 cards).

Deeper Reading

Jodorowsky's "Lectura de Tarot" treats the deck as a tool for self-knowledge rather than divination, with Marseille's ambiguous Minor Arcana inviting projection rather than prescribing meaning. This non-predictive reading is increasingly mainstream.

See Also

  • Tarot de Marseille
  • TdM
  • Marseilles tarot
  • tarot de Marsella