Tarot

While playing cards first migrated from Egypt and the Far East to Europe in the late 1300s, decks which may have been used specifically for divination — or fortune telling — appeared in various parts of Italy nearly 50 years later. These Tarot decks, from the Italian “tarocchi,” started with the four traditional suits but added a new twist — a series of cards with religious images. In the first half of the 20th century, Tarot surged in popularity as a divination tool. The Rider-Waite and Thoth decks, two of the most popular modern decks, originate from this era.