Tarot Myths, Debunked
A lot of "tarot history" is romantic invention. Here are the biggest myths — and what the evidence actually shows. (For the real story, see the origins of tarot.)
Myth: Tarot is ancient Egyptian
False. This idea comes from Antoine Court de Gébelin, who in 1781 claimed the cards encoded the Egyptian "Book of Thoth." He offered no evidence, and Egyptology has never supported it. Tarot is a European invention of the 1400s — well documented in Italian records.
Myth: Tarot was created by the Romani people
Unsupported. A 19th-century association linked tarot with Romani fortune-tellers, but the cards pre-date and developed independently of that connection. The attribution is a stereotype, not history.
Myth: Tarot was always used for fortune-telling
No. For its first ~300 years tarot was mainly a card game. Divination use only became widespread in the late 18th century.
Myth: The Death card predicts a literal death
No. Death symbolises endings and transformation; The Tower means upheaval, not disaster. See is tarot dangerous?
Frequently asked questions
Is tarot ancient Egyptian?
No — that claim began with Court de Gébelin in 1781 and has no historical support. Tarot began as a card game in 15th-century Italy.
How old is tarot really?
The earliest tarot decks date to the mid-1400s in northern Italy — roughly 550–600 years old.