Mythology-based decks--what are your favorites?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 02 Feb 2005, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Stregaverde	02 Feb 2005
I just picked up the Celtic Tarot, and really like it. Mythology is a great interest of mine, and I'd like to eventually collect another myth-based deck or two (or five). I was wondering if anyone had favorites (or not-so favorites)? I'm deciding between: Mythological Tarot Olympus Tarot Tarot of Atlantis (not straight mythology, but seems interesting) Vikings Tarot (Tisselli) I know very little about Egyptian mythology, so deck suggestions there are welcome. Also, anyone know of any Roman pantheon decks? Thanks! :)

Fudugazi	02 Feb 2005
For me, the Mythic Tarot, hands down, no competition. It was a close companion during many a perilous moment, and always gave me some deep and useful insight that made sense of whatever situation I was in. Something about these Greek gods and heroes who lived such epic lives! Now that I am more settled and out of the front line, as it were, other decks call to me. But I keep an everlasting fondness for the strangely naive/sophisticated imagery and direct language of the Mythic Tarot. It's a very well accompanied deck as well - the book has several pages on on the myths. Unlike the Olympus Tarot, it also takes whole myths and follows them through a suit (e.g. the Oresteia, or the story of Psyche and Eros). Edited to add: I don't know if this would fall under mythology, but I am attracted by the Shapeshifter Tarot. Something about metamorphosis - reminds me of Ovid. So evocative and troubling.

Scion	02 Feb 2005
This is slightly tangential, but I think it bears posting. For anyone who's working with a mythic deck drawing on the Greek tradition, run, do not walk, to buy a copy of Roberto Calasso's The Marriage of Cadmus and Harmony. So much of what we glean about mythology is a sort of boiled down post-Roman, Victorian sanitization of the cycles. Calasso OWNS these stories and braids them in the most startling ways... rapturous, evocative prose and stunning juxtapositions of myths you thought you knew. Calasso manages to capture the feeling of the culture and the vibrancy and immediacy of Greek mythic imagination as it might have been. Thrilling, thrilling writing that will resonate with you long after you close the book. It could only add to your enjoyment and exploration of a mythic deck. In fact he did something similar with the Hindu religious traditions (for people using South Asian inspired decks) in his subsequent novel, Ka. Thought it was worth mentioning... Scion

annik	02 Feb 2005
Mythology is my major theme of deck collecting. For those I have, I can't say any one is a favorite. The mythic tarot is fine but I find the one story theme of each suit a bit limiting. For the olympus, I connected well (even if it is inspired by Robert Graves. I am not a fan of his) But there is some cards/deities link I don't agree with. I feel a bit the same for a few cards on the mythic too. But the pictures are nice. Il tarocco mithologico -- just finding it a bit cold. Maybe it is due to the drawing style and the colors. There is the pythagorean tarot also. But this one, I feel there is a faint connection with mythology. I think the theme of this one is more alchemy and numbers. The mythology is more for a support here... There is the northern shadows that have hints of nothern mythology (if I remember well, mainly on the major arcana) But my knowledge of that particuliar mythology isn't very strong, so I can't be the best of judge on that matter. The closest one that can be linked with the Romans is the Etruscan tarot. This one, I like the pictures very much. Now, it would be great to have a tarot based on the Cretan civilization (the drawing style is very near the Etruscan one...)

similia	02 Feb 2005
annik wrote: The mythic tarot is fine but I find the one story theme of each suit a bit limiting. The Mythic was the first deck was really able to start reading with, and the one story theme for each suit was a big part of that. It made learning the meanings of cards easier, and helped me hold the whole lot together. I rarely use it now however as I had trouble moving past the smaller meanings of the cards as described in the accompaning book (within the context of the story). I since moved on to other decks, and broadened my appreciation of tarot. Maybe I would get more out of the deck now.

Keslynn	02 Feb 2005
The Lovers Path Tarot is a gorgeous deck that is based around mythic and literary lovers. I've learned a lot from reading the companion book. And did I mention the artwork is lovely? I adore this deck. I had the Mythic for a while, but I never connected well with it. :) Kes

Cerulean	02 Feb 2005
...I seem to read that many favor the Clive Barrett's Ancient Egyptian for tarot. For oracles, the Book of Doors is great and has an appendix that will show the 22 trump correspondence with tarot, if you want a tarotlike oracle deck with much Egyptian information. I have both of the above in English. I also have a few 'esoteric' Egyptian-style decks that appeal more to an art lover and perhaps historic tarot fan. They aren't as easy to decipher or as strong in Egyptian mythology as the two above. My esoteric and historical tarot pick with an Egyptian feel is the Lo Scarabeo deck and book kit of Sylvana Alasia's beautiful "Egyptien" that has trumps based on Paul Christian's 19th century writings of a student becoming initiated into the 22 'keys' or 'steps' of an esoteric society--fictional and charming. The deck has pretty paintings on black cards as if they were papyrus scrolls. The minors are written about as well in English, but most of the meanings are similar to Italian card-meanings, a rather old style of reading tarot. If you just want beautiful Egyptian-style illustrations and don't mind Italian language books, the De Vecchi edition of the Laura Tuan Egyptian has great, large cards and an old fashioned, not easily read tarot structure similar to Etteilla of the late 1700's/or 1800's. Best wishes, Cerulean P.S. The Lovers Path is gorgeous and big. Because you are in Italy though, the De Vecchi sets might appeal to you for their beautiful, thick bookcase style text, gorgeous big cards on textured nonlaminated stock and the compact size...they have Celtici (Laura Tuan text); Mayan (interesting, but I don't own it yet); the Egyptien, also with Laura Tuan text; the beautiful historic Dotti (Yeats owned the Dotti-style cards); there are also the Gitani (nice, but simple) and a smaller, woodcut stencil Di Gumppenberg. They are also listed on alidastore.com and trigono.com

The Mythology-based decks--what are your favorites? thread was originally posted on 02 Feb 2005 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.