Egyptian Tarot Set

Egyptian Tarot Set - tarot with Egyptian deities and papyrus texture

Western tarot and Egyptian mysticism have been intertwined for over a century and a half. This deck by Silvana Alasia makes that connection visible: 78 cards in which pharaohs, priests and gods carry the archetypes of the tarot.

The cards are published by Lo Scarabeo and feature a papyrus-like texture that gives the illustrations a museum quality. The black borders keep the images contained during shuffling and laying out.

What you see on the cards

The Major Arcana follow the classic structure, but the figures are Egyptian: the High Priestess wears the feathers of Maat, Death shows Anubis, the Star refers to Isis. The symbolism is layered and based on the studies of Jean-Baptiste Pitois, a nineteenth-century French occultist.

The Minor Arcana diverge from the Rider-Waite tradition. Instead of narrative scenes you see geometric compositions with Egyptian symbols: wands, cups, swords and pentacles are arranged in patterns reminiscent of temple walls and papyrus scrolls. This makes the deck less suitable if you are used to reading meanings directly from the imagery.

The colours are warm: ochre, terracotta and gold dominate. The papyrus texture is visible on every card, as if the images were painted on ancient writing material.

How you work with it

This deck asks for a different way of reading. The Minor Arcana contain few narrative scenes, so you read more from the position of the card, the element and the symbolism than from what you see happening. That can be refreshing if you are ready for a more abstract system.

The guidebook is multilingual and gives brief meanings for each card. No extensive stories, but enough to give direction. The focus is on the symbolic layer: what does this deity represent, what does this ritual mean, how does this number work within Egyptian cosmology.

Pay attention to the posture of the figures on each card. That body language, based on Egyptian reliefs, often contains more information than the objects on the card.

About Silvana Alasia

Silvana Alasia is an Italian artist from Turin, trained at the Aldo Passoni Art Institute. She works extensively with historical themes and cultures and has illustrated several decks for Lo Scarabeo. Her style is figurative and detailed, with attention to historical accuracy in clothing, attributes and setting.

Specifications

• Number of cards: 78 (22 Major Arcana, 56 Minor Arcana)
• Card size: 66 x 120 mm
• Finish: black borders, papyrus texture
• Language: multilingual (English, French, German, Italian)
• Publisher: Lo Scarabeo
• ISBN: 9780738704487
• Cardstock quality: sturdy, suitable for daily use
• Guidebook: multilingual guidebook with brief card meanings
• Illustrator: Silvana Alasia

Questions we often get

Do the Minor Arcana follow Rider-Waite imagery?
No. The Minor Arcana are more abstract and show mainly geometric compositions with Egyptian symbols. If you are used to drawing meanings from narrative scenes, this deck requires a different approach.

Is the papyrus texture only visual or can you feel it too?
The texture is printed on the cardstock and visible, but the cardstock itself is smooth. The effect is visual, not tactile. The cards feel like standard Lo Scarabeo tarot cardstock: sturdy and easy to shuffle.