Classical Myth Decks

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 08 Apr 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Shade	08 Apr 2004
Hi there, I just wanted to check in with all of you on a question. I've ben trying to get my hands on every deck that has Classical Greek and Roman mythology as its theme. So far I have: The Mythic Tarot (Juliet Sharman-Burke) The Olympus Tarot (Manfredi Toraldo) Tarocco Mitologico (Folchi) Rennaisance Tarot (Brian Williams) Etruscan Tarot (Silvana Alasia) How am I doing? Have I missed any?

Moonbow*	08 Apr 2004
How about the Minchiate, it's a 97 card deck that also includes the four virtues, the four elements and the zodiac signs. There are various Minchiate decks. The Brian Williams one, the Ancient Etruria, Solleone and Fiorentine - (maybe even more, I don't know about) Etruria Fiorentine Firenze Minchiate - Solleone Brian Williams' Minchiate

mercenary30	08 Apr 2004
There is this one but it is not directly related. From what I understand Arthurian legends were still based on Greek/Roman mythos........ Legend: Arthurian Tarot

Cerulean	08 Apr 2004
Pythagorean Tarot and Spiritual Tarot. Check out pictures and descriptions under what is left from Joan Bunning's close-out here: http://www.learntarot.com/pricelist.htm Spiritual Tarot's website seems to have gone away, but the there's a loose association with goddess Aphrodite...so this would be the only place you could get the 22 trumps if you were so inclined. Pythagorean is rather easier to find. Both might not have pictures that you like at all. ------------------------------------------------- Additional note: closer to classical characters and a delight for historical collections, the Silver Mantegna, if you want to go that route: http://www.loscarabeo.com/catalogo2004/Catalogo_UK/catalogo.htm Select Tarots on the upper right hand corner, then the screen that comes up will have a listing of Gold and Silver to the left. Select Gold and Silver and if you like the samples, this is a lovely deck. A very interesting book writing of how the Early-to-High-Renaissance views on classical mythology and reinterpretations is "A Pagan Dream of the Renaissance" discussed in the thread below. The deck title is about the Tarot of the Masters/Vacchetta, but the book mentioned actually has descriptions of the Mantegna in one of its chapters. http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=9426&perpage=10&highlight=Pagan%20Dream%20of%20the%20Renaissance&pagenumber=2 The Tarot of the Master/Vachetta becomes more recognizeable for its use of putti (cupids) and Amor similar to Renaissance reinterpretation of classical mythology. That might be a little closer to your Greco-Roman line of collecting. Over time, if you do want to explore Renaissance to Romantic depictions of Greco-Roman characterizations, the Sola Busca (we only have the 19th century reinterpretions of the 15th century deck) - you can also see it under historical decks at Lo Scarabeo. Mitelli 1660 http://l-pollett.tripod.com/cards38.htm Minchiate 1760 or the di Gumppenberg 1811 - Lo Scarabeo link If you are like me, you might first like the Silver Mantegna and then the colored Tarot of the Master (also on the Lo Scarabeo site)...but over time, I went to Il Trigomo and Alidastore.com and ordered the Il Menghello matte-finish decks. I don't know if these are 'close but not as classic as I wished' in your collecting desires....but they might be of interest based on your affinity to seeing such characterizations. And that's just Italian. You might take a peek at Swiss-style Marseilles with Jupiter and Juno later on... Mari H.

Shade	11 Apr 2004
Thanks for the responses, I hadn't thought of the Minchiate decks, I'd been planning on getting the Williams one but some of the others look fun for a vintage-feel.

Cerulean	13 Apr 2004
http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/ancient-mysteries/ This looks very cool! And it's available to buy... http://www.aeclectic.net/cgi/buyframe.cgi?type=deck&id=1036 By the way, I realized after checking out the links that this also added other cultural flavors from ancient myth images, so it may be too prehistorical for your leanings to the more elegant Greek and Roman decks. But it gives fruit for the mind, to produce a glorious painted andcollage-based deck with favored images...although I've collected samples, I seem to favor how the Renaissance and later ages looked back to classical themes. If you ever get to this, the art of the Neoclassical 1811 or di Gumppenberg (Ancient Tarots of Lombardy) may be also your style. No books or attributions though to tell you of Greco-Roman meanings, just pictures that look 'in costume'. The Warriors Tarot or Sola Busca/Illuminating Ancient Tarots may also have the costume look and mythic characters. Cerulean Mari Thanks for bringing up this idea...I've been wondering if something new and fresh would be coming this year. Mari H.

Shade	15 Apr 2004
Woah, taht's goreous, I'd never seen this deck before. I love the various traditions blended hee, it's diverse but doesn't feel "jumbled" (see Vertigo deck). Thank you for pointing that one out.

Cerulean	15 Apr 2004
The artist sent me an email quickly -- I emailed him after I tried going through my bookstore, Amazon.com and a distributor for Lotus Publishing. The deck and book are so new, ordering through him (he has a few copies) will be fastest. I'm waiting until Monday to see if I really want this. So you are welcome to email him...I've heard it will be another month or two before Internatural (another distributor mentioned through the website) will be getting this in stock. Mari

Riversea	15 Apr 2004
While not limited to Greco-Roman mythology, Kris Waldherr’s Goddess Tarot and her soon to be released Lover’s Path Tarot do incorporate some classical myths. http://www.artandwords.com/lptarot/museo.html

Asher	17 Apr 2004
Internatural (the distrubutor mentioned on the Lotus Press website) has the deck in stock at 15% off. The book is expected mid-May, although on the website, it looks like it's available now. I ordered both, and a couple of hours later, received both a phone call and an email, apologizing that the book is currently not yet available. Lotus Press did not seem very willing to let me order directly from them; I was instructed to order from Internatural. Asher

Cerulean	17 Apr 2004
I emailed the author by going back to the page linked by Aeclectic.net to the author's site and using the yahoo address. He got back to me within the same day and I said I would think about it, as I may have to send a money order to another area. I've not emailed an order through the author yet and am thinking whether to wait until May when it will be more readily available. Mari H.

galadrial	11 May 2004
The Story-Teller tarot, by Rosanna Rogers has a mythological theme. You can view it at www.themysticeye.com/pics/story.htm and www.tarotgarden.com/database/dbsearchengine.php?search_type=blob&pageenter=0 (click on page 103 and scroll down). Despite the deck having been made in 1984, the phone number listed on mysticeye.com is correct (it is for the Cleveland, Ohio area), and she is still taking orders. Though tarotgarden.com is sold out, I just phoned Rosanna yesterday and was able to order directly from her, via a money order, for $55.00. The other good news is that she has just finished writing a book for the deck, though it hasn't been printed yet. She offered me the option of waiting for the book and getting the set or ordering the deck first and then the book. Being the patient person that I am (snicker) I ordered the deck; the $55.00 does not include the book. I didn't ask her the cost of the book nor the set. She will contact all those on her list that already have the deck when the book is ready.

Cerulean	11 May 2004
I don't see regular card titles and numbers--This might be a nice card set with a border. She has quite a bit of information also on the cards themselves I like the sketchbook/illustrative feel. Regards, Cerulean

The Classical Myth Decks thread was originally posted on 08 Apr 2004 in the Tarot Decks board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Tarot Decks, or read more archived threads.