[Mitchell]

Tarot cards were brought to Europe by the Arabs.

From what I've read, ordinary playing cards were brought to Europe by the Arabs (having been invented in China earlier). Tarot cards are thought to have originated in 15th-century Italy, not long after the introduction of playing cards.

Tarot cards are popular in several Moslem countries

Yes, I don't doubt this at all.

[cake_crumb]

No one knows exactly when Tarot cards were invented, but it was in the 13th or 14th century...which makes my earlier statement that Muslims developed their own deck decorations in the 12th (or whatever I said)

HOWEVER: Let's put the debate about whether or not Muslims use Tarot cards to rest. THEY DO USE TAROT CARDS. These people are into ANY form of mysticism that takes their fancy. The general consensus is that Tarot was invented in Europe...but for years, Muslims have been trying to take credit for it (like they do with Algebra, which was invented in India). One guy, who isn't worthy of a link, even says that Tarot was developed in Egypt 4,000 years ago...which is, as usual with Muslim hijacking of history and other cultures, total BS.

http://www.tarotplanet.com/Catalog/Islam.htm....in fact, there does not seem to be any debate on the subject as far as Muslims are concerned.

[Nogbad]

From what I've read, ordinary playing cards were brought to Europe by the Arabs
(having been invented in China earlier).
Tarot cards are thought to have originated in 15th-century Italy,
not long after the introduction of playing cards.

Yes, you are right, I was wrong.
It would be interesting to know the origin
of the Tarot cards in use in the Middle East.

Were they of moslem origin, or were they reintroduced by the Venetians who occupied Cyprus for many years?

[Nogbad]

It seems the history of Tarot cards is not all that clear.
Tarot cards originally were just one form of playing cards.
All types of playing cards were at times used for divination.
The Visconti-Sforza Tarocchi deck apparently had its originis in 'Arabia'.

The Italian word for Tarot is "Tarocchi"
which gives credence to the idea that the name comes
from the Arabic "Turuq" i.e. 4 ways.

Tarot-Decks