foolish
reconsidering a cathar connection - copy
some tarot historians have alluded to the connection between the cathars and the origins of the tarot trumps. o'neill has published his arguments on the subject on tarot.com and seems to conclude that, although there appears to be a connection between the two, there is no definitive convincing evidence and that it will remain a mystery.
one of the major problems is the apparent time line involved. the cathars were attacked by the pope and the king of france during the albigensian crusade (1209-1229) and by the subsequent establishment of the inquisition. most people accept the fact that they were wiped out. however, we know that many survivors fled to northern italy and found shelter in more tollerant communities and may have been supported by powerful families such as the viscontis of milan and the d'estes of ferrara. this in and of itself should raise our attention. after all, this is where the tarot trumps were initially created in the early 1400's.
we know that the inquistion was actively pursuing fugitive cathars well into the 14th century, which puts the survivors only a few generations away from this development. in addition, we should consider the possibility that the tarot trumps were created not necessarily by the cathars themselves, but by other sympathizers who may have decided to preserve their story.
it is quite reasonalble that in the time between the final demise of the cathars and the early development of the tarot in italy, the stories of the tragedies that occured in languedoc during the cathar extermination and the spiritual messages of those people could have been handed down by word of mouth, as was the custom at the time.
some tarot historians have alluded to the connection between the cathars and the origins of the tarot trumps. o'neill has published his arguments on the subject on tarot.com and seems to conclude that, although there appears to be a connection between the two, there is no definitive convincing evidence and that it will remain a mystery.
one of the major problems is the apparent time line involved. the cathars were attacked by the pope and the king of france during the albigensian crusade (1209-1229) and by the subsequent establishment of the inquisition. most people accept the fact that they were wiped out. however, we know that many survivors fled to northern italy and found shelter in more tollerant communities and may have been supported by powerful families such as the viscontis of milan and the d'estes of ferrara. this in and of itself should raise our attention. after all, this is where the tarot trumps were initially created in the early 1400's.
we know that the inquistion was actively pursuing fugitive cathars well into the 14th century, which puts the survivors only a few generations away from this development. in addition, we should consider the possibility that the tarot trumps were created not necessarily by the cathars themselves, but by other sympathizers who may have decided to preserve their story.
it is quite reasonalble that in the time between the final demise of the cathars and the early development of the tarot in italy, the stories of the tragedies that occured in languedoc during the cathar extermination and the spiritual messages of those people could have been handed down by word of mouth, as was the custom at the time.