Minchiate Florentine Tarot
Number of Cards: 97
Recommendation: Use Upright
The Minchiate deck comes in multiple versions; this version is the Florentine edition. Other versions include, for example: the Etruscan version, the French version, and the Brian Williams version.
The Minchiate deck is a variant of the well-known 78-card Tarot deck. In many ways, it is very similar to the standard Tarot, and both share a common origin, but compared to more common Tarot decks, it has some significant differences.
First and most obviously, the Minchiate deck consists of 97 cards. The number of Minor Arcana cards is the same, but there are forty-one Major Arcana cards (including the Fool). Among these, the order of many standard Tarot Major Arcana cards has been rearranged, the Queen is removed, the High Priestess, Emperor, and Pope are replaced by the Archduke, Western Emperor, and Eastern Emperor, and an additional twenty Major Arcana cards are added.
Tarot historian Huck concludes: If someone wishes to interpret "the difference between Minchiate and standard Tarot," then it seems that in their version, the Florentines "expanded Heaven." The path to Heaven begins with the Hope card, Prudence card, and other virtue cards, leading through the exploration of elements and the Zodiac, finally reaching the Stars and subsequent other cards, and these cards present a fact in their own way: arriving at Heaven."
These added cards include twelve "Zodiac Cards," four "Classical Elements Cards," and four Classical and Religious Virtue cards. The last five Major Arcana cards are unnumbered and are called "Wind Cards."
Regarding the Minor Arcana, unique features of the Minchiate include: The four Knights are hybrid creatures half-human and half-animal. The Pages of Wands and Swords are male, while the Pages of Cups and Pentacles are female. The Wands are decorative ball-headed staves, like smooth columns turned on a lathe, topped with ornaments. The Cups have complex shapes; in most Minchiate versions, each card differs. The Swords are straight, unlike the curved ones in the Marseille Tarot. Most Pentacles feature engraved human heads. All Minor Arcana cards are not as richly illustrated in scene depiction as the Rider-Waite Tarot, but many carry additional decorative images; some depict Italian history and myth scenes (such as Hannibal crossing the Alps with elephants, the wolf suckling Romulus and Remus), and others come from Aesop's Fables (such as the Fox and the Stork).
The earliest known record regarding this deck is named "Germini," dating back to 1466, though some believe this date is as late as 1506. Therefore, it does not predate the Tarot, but appears to have developed from the same image source. It was once very popular in Italy, being one of the most popular card games of the time, even replacing the standard 78-card Tarot produced in the region during the 1700s, spreading throughout Italy and France. Until the 1930s, the popularity of this game gradually faded.
[About the Suits]
The four suits correspond to the four estates of medieval society: Wands correspond to the energy and wit of the peasantry, Cups correspond to the spirituality and contemplation of the clergy, Swords correspond to the aggression and bellicosity of the noble knights, and Pentacles correspond to the practicality and wealth exchange pursued by the merchant class.
[The Two Emperors]
In the Minchiate deck, the Emperors are two of the four Pontiffs. The Western Emperor and the Eastern Emperor exist independently, but it is difficult to discuss them separately without some comparison and contrast. According to contemporary schools of thought during the creation of the deck, "West" and "East" refer respectively to the Roman Empire (or the later Germanic Empire) and the Byzantine Empire. The Western Emperor exhibits Roman military rule, while the Eastern Emperor is more subject to the religious theocracy of the Byzantine Empire.
[The Four Cardinal Virtues / Four Great Virtues]
There are four Cardinal Virtues in the classical system of thought, namely: Temperance, Fortitude, Justice, and Prudence. They originally originated from Plato's "Republic," were further expanded by Cicero and Ambrose, and later elaborated upon by Augustine of Hippo and Thomas Aquinas. Augustine of Hippo's description of these virtues: For these four virtues (may everyone feel them as deeply rooted in their hearts as their reputation!), I define them without hesitation:
Temperance is love giving itself entirely to the beloved object;
Fortitude is love willingly enduring everything for the sake of the beloved object;
Justice is love serving only the beloved object, thus ruling rightly;
Prudence is love distinguishing with wisdom what hinders it and what helps it.
In the system of the 78-card Tarot deck, the first three of the four Cardinal Virtues usually appear—Justice, Fortitude (or Strength), and Temperance. It is uncertain why the fourth Cardinal Virtue, Prudence, was not included in the Tarot deck, but its meaning is integrated into other cards.
[Religious Virtues (The Christian Virtues)]
Faith, Hope, and Charity.
[Elements]
The next batch of cards unique to the Minchiate are the four Classical Elements: Fire, Water, Earth, and Air. Such a concept of elements, different from chemistry or even alchemy, is an ancient concept that appears in various combinations in many cultures. What is displayed in the Minchiate is influenced by Greek culture, which remained prevalent until the Renaissance period. The term "Element" was clearly introduced by Plato and elaborated by Aristotle and many later figures. Each of these four elements has its own set of attributes, which medieval physicians used for diagnosis: Hot (Fire and Air) versus Cold (Water and Earth), and Wet (Water and Air) versus Dry (Fire and Earth).
[Zodiac Cards]
The twelve cards of the Zodiac are inserted as a complete block between the Four Elements cards and the Wind Cards. They are an addition to the original Tarot pattern, replacing astrological associations grafted onto the Major Arcana and Minor Arcana by later mystics. Many of these cards depict myths or fables from ancient Greece and Rome. Note that the order of these cards does not follow the generally recognized Zodiac order today (modern Tarot's astrological associations do so as well). It starts with Libra—Libra corresponds to the Autumnal Equinox (while the astrological year is typically considered to begin after the Vernal Equinox, six months apart). Afterward, the order has no obvious pattern, jumping back and forth between preceding/following signs and seasons. After Libra, it jumps first to Virgo ahead of it, then to Scorpio behind it, then jumps to Aries six months away, returns to Capricorn a full season away, steps back to Sagittarius, then leaps forward six months to Cancer (from Winter Solstice to Summer Solstice). Next it jumps to Pisces at the typical end of the Zodiac and its preceding sign Aquarius, then leaps forward to Leo, retreats to Taurus, and finally advances smoothly to its following sign Gemini. Completely impossible to discern a pattern.
When using these cards for interpretation, the associations are basically the same as those familiar to anyone who has read horoscopes—the typical traits of a person born under a certain zodiac sign are the meanings usually assigned to that card in Minchiate interpretation.
[Aria Cards / Wind Cards]
The last subset of the Minchiate Major Arcana is the final five unnumbered cards: Stars, Moon, Sun, World, and Fame. These cards were later collectively referred to as Aria Cards / Wind Cards.
[Suit of Wands]
The Wands in the Minchiate are depicted as ordinary wooden staffs or wands, with spherical knobs at both ends. This suit belongs to skilled artisans and farmers, highly sought-after craftsmen. It implies not only resourcefulness and hard work, but also the energy to strive for and achieve goals.
[Suit of Cups]
The Cup, the church communion chalice, traces back to the clergy in medieval society. This implies the People of God, spirituality, contemplation, kindness, and consideration for others. The cups depicted on the cards vary, but most are intricately designed vessels.
[Suit of Swords]
As the preferred weapon of ancient knights and warriors, the sword is a symbol of nobility. Serving the king requires a good sword; this is a highly coveted status symbol and weapon, passed from father to son, extremely costly to produce requiring immense labor, cherished and symbolizing power and authority. Therefore, the Suit of Swords in the Minchiate is the suit of lofty authority and ideals of governance, along with the accompanying thoughts and strategies. More importantly, the sword is a weapon used in war; this makes it a symbol of conflict, power, and imposing one's will upon others. Therefore, this suit is often filled with trouble and brings bad news.
[Suit of Pentacles]
The Suit of Pentacles is the merchants' suit, governing material matters: tangible wealth and security, as well as family and work. In the Minchiate, it is represented by simple coins, with most coin faces embossed with human heads (except for the Ace of Pentacles and Nine of Pentacles).
Download Cosmara to unlock this deck
Recommendation: Use Upright
The Minchiate deck comes in multiple versions; this version is the Florentine edition. Other versions include, for example: the Etruscan version, the French version, and the Brian Williams version.
The Minchiate deck is a variant of the well-known 78-card Tarot deck. In many ways, it is very similar to the standard Tarot, and both share a common origin, but compared to more common Tarot decks, it has some significant differences.
First and most obviously, the Minchiate deck consists of 97 cards. The number of Minor Arcana cards is the same, but there are forty-one Major Arcana cards (including the Fool). Among these, the order of many standard Tarot Major Arcana cards has been rearranged, the Queen is removed, the High Priestess, Emperor, and Pope are replaced by the Archduke, Western Emperor, and Eastern Emperor, and an additional twenty Major Arcana cards are added.
Tarot historian Huck concludes: If someone wishes to interpret "the difference between Minchiate and standard Tarot," then it seems that in their version, the Florentines "expanded Heaven." The path to Heaven begins with the Hope card, Prudence card, and other virtue cards, leading through the exploration of elements and the Zodiac, finally reaching the Stars and subsequent other cards, and these cards present a fact in their own way: arriving at Heaven."
These added cards include twelve "Zodiac Cards," four "Classical Elements Cards," and four Classical and Religious Virtue cards. The last five Major Arcana cards are unnumbered and are called "Wind Cards."
Regarding the Minor Arcana, unique features of the Minchiate include: The four Knights are hybrid creatures half-human and half-animal. The Pages of Wands and Swords are male, while the Pages of Cups and Pentacles are female. The Wands are decorative ball-headed staves, like smooth columns turned on a lathe, topped with ornaments. The Cups have complex shapes; in most Minchiate versions, each card differs. The Swords are straight, unlike the curved ones in the Marseille Tarot. Most Pentacles feature engraved human heads. All Minor Arcana cards are not as richly illustrated in scene depiction as the Rider-Waite Tarot, but many carry additional decorative images; some depict Italian history and myth scenes (such as Hannibal crossing the Alps with elephants, the wolf suckling Romulus and Remus), and others come from Aesop's Fables (such as the Fox and the Stork).
The earliest known record regarding this deck is named "Germini," dating back to 1466, though some believe this date is as late as 1506. Therefore, it does not predate the Tarot, but appears to have developed from the same image source. It was once very popular in Italy, being one of the most popular card games of the time, even replacing the standard 78-card Tarot produced in the region during the 1700s, spreading throughout Italy and France. Until the 1930s, the popularity of this game gradually faded.
[About the Suits]
The four suits correspond to the four estates of medieval society: Wands correspond to the energy and wit of the peasantry, Cups correspond to the spirituality and contemplation of the clergy, Swords correspond to the aggression and bellicosity of the noble knights, and Pentacles correspond to the practicality and wealth exchange pursued by the merchant class.
[The Two Emperors]
In the Minchiate deck, the Emperors are two of the four Pontiffs. The Western Emperor and the Eastern Emperor exist independently, but it is difficult to discuss them separately without some comparison and contrast. According to contemporary schools of thought during the creation of the deck, "West" and "East" refer respectively to the Roman Empire (or the later Germanic Empire) and the Byzantine Empire. The Western Emperor exhibits Roman military rule, while the Eastern Emperor is more subject to the religious theocracy of the Byzantine Empire.
[The Four Cardinal Virtues / Four Great Virtues]
There are four Cardinal Virtues in the classical system of thought, namely: Temperance, Fortitude, Justice, and Prudence. They originally originated from Plato's "Republic," were further expanded by Cicero and Ambrose, and later elaborated upon by Augustine of Hippo and Thomas Aquinas. Augustine of Hippo's description of these virtues: For these four virtues (may everyone feel them as deeply rooted in their hearts as their reputation!), I define them without hesitation:
Temperance is love giving itself entirely to the beloved object;
Fortitude is love willingly enduring everything for the sake of the beloved object;
Justice is love serving only the beloved object, thus ruling rightly;
Prudence is love distinguishing with wisdom what hinders it and what helps it.
In the system of the 78-card Tarot deck, the first three of the four Cardinal Virtues usually appear—Justice, Fortitude (or Strength), and Temperance. It is uncertain why the fourth Cardinal Virtue, Prudence, was not included in the Tarot deck, but its meaning is integrated into other cards.
[Religious Virtues (The Christian Virtues)]
Faith, Hope, and Charity.
[Elements]
The next batch of cards unique to the Minchiate are the four Classical Elements: Fire, Water, Earth, and Air. Such a concept of elements, different from chemistry or even alchemy, is an ancient concept that appears in various combinations in many cultures. What is displayed in the Minchiate is influenced by Greek culture, which remained prevalent until the Renaissance period. The term "Element" was clearly introduced by Plato and elaborated by Aristotle and many later figures. Each of these four elements has its own set of attributes, which medieval physicians used for diagnosis: Hot (Fire and Air) versus Cold (Water and Earth), and Wet (Water and Air) versus Dry (Fire and Earth).
[Zodiac Cards]
The twelve cards of the Zodiac are inserted as a complete block between the Four Elements cards and the Wind Cards. They are an addition to the original Tarot pattern, replacing astrological associations grafted onto the Major Arcana and Minor Arcana by later mystics. Many of these cards depict myths or fables from ancient Greece and Rome. Note that the order of these cards does not follow the generally recognized Zodiac order today (modern Tarot's astrological associations do so as well). It starts with Libra—Libra corresponds to the Autumnal Equinox (while the astrological year is typically considered to begin after the Vernal Equinox, six months apart). Afterward, the order has no obvious pattern, jumping back and forth between preceding/following signs and seasons. After Libra, it jumps first to Virgo ahead of it, then to Scorpio behind it, then jumps to Aries six months away, returns to Capricorn a full season away, steps back to Sagittarius, then leaps forward six months to Cancer (from Winter Solstice to Summer Solstice). Next it jumps to Pisces at the typical end of the Zodiac and its preceding sign Aquarius, then leaps forward to Leo, retreats to Taurus, and finally advances smoothly to its following sign Gemini. Completely impossible to discern a pattern.
When using these cards for interpretation, the associations are basically the same as those familiar to anyone who has read horoscopes—the typical traits of a person born under a certain zodiac sign are the meanings usually assigned to that card in Minchiate interpretation.
[Aria Cards / Wind Cards]
The last subset of the Minchiate Major Arcana is the final five unnumbered cards: Stars, Moon, Sun, World, and Fame. These cards were later collectively referred to as Aria Cards / Wind Cards.
[Suit of Wands]
The Wands in the Minchiate are depicted as ordinary wooden staffs or wands, with spherical knobs at both ends. This suit belongs to skilled artisans and farmers, highly sought-after craftsmen. It implies not only resourcefulness and hard work, but also the energy to strive for and achieve goals.
[Suit of Cups]
The Cup, the church communion chalice, traces back to the clergy in medieval society. This implies the People of God, spirituality, contemplation, kindness, and consideration for others. The cups depicted on the cards vary, but most are intricately designed vessels.
[Suit of Swords]
As the preferred weapon of ancient knights and warriors, the sword is a symbol of nobility. Serving the king requires a good sword; this is a highly coveted status symbol and weapon, passed from father to son, extremely costly to produce requiring immense labor, cherished and symbolizing power and authority. Therefore, the Suit of Swords in the Minchiate is the suit of lofty authority and ideals of governance, along with the accompanying thoughts and strategies. More importantly, the sword is a weapon used in war; this makes it a symbol of conflict, power, and imposing one's will upon others. Therefore, this suit is often filled with trouble and brings bad news.
[Suit of Pentacles]
The Suit of Pentacles is the merchants' suit, governing material matters: tangible wealth and security, as well as family and work. In the Minchiate, it is represented by simple coins, with most coin faces embossed with human heads (except for the Ace of Pentacles and Nine of Pentacles).