Tarot of the Nile - tarot in the visual language of Egyptian stone reliefs
The Major Arcana of the Tarot of the Nile bear a striking resemblance to stone reliefs from temples and burial chambers. Urus Pajic, the creator of this deck, deliberately chooses the classic two-dimensional style of Egyptian art: figures in profile, clean lines, flat colour planes.
The result is a deck that stands out from a distance through its use of colour. Vibrant shades of red, blue, gold and green emerge against a deep black background. The Major Arcana carry a gold foil that catches the light. The card borders are colour-coded by element.
What you see on the cards
Pajic bases his work on the Rider-Waite-Smith structure, but consistently replaces the symbolism with Egyptian equivalents. The Emperor becomes a pharaoh. The Star depicts Nut, goddess of the sky. The Tower shows a collapsing pyramid.
The cards are printed on 350 gsm cardstock with a linen finish that provides grip when shuffling. The format is 70 x 120 mm, slightly narrower than standard tarot cards. The guidebook contains colour illustrations and describes for each card the connection between the RWS meaning and the Egyptian imagery.
How this deck relates to classic RWS
If you know the RWS structure, you will recognise the framework immediately. Pajic does not alter the sequence and maintains the core themes of each card. What changes is the form. No medieval knights, but Egyptian priests. No Christian symbolism, but ankh signs and scarabs.
This makes the deck usable for anyone who already works with RWS and is interested in a different visual layer. The black background and gold accents give the whole a solemn quality that contrasts with the lighter tone of many modern decks.
Watch the colour-coded borders while reading. They show at a glance which element dominates your spread.
About Urus Pajic
Urus Pajic is a graphic artist and illustrator with academic training in fine arts. His work is characterised by clean lines and a preference for ancient cultures. For the Tarot of the Nile, he combined his interest in Egyptian iconography with the tarot structure.
Specifications
- Number of cards: 78
- Language: English
- Publisher: Da Brigh
- Card size: 70 x 120 mm
- Cardstock weight: 350 gsm
- Finish: Linen texture, gold foil on Major Arcana, colour-coded borders
- Guidebook: Included, with colour illustrations
Questions we often get
Do I need to know Egyptian mythology to work with this deck?
No. The guidebook explains the connection between the RWS meanings and the Egyptian imagery. The structure is standard RWS, the form is Egyptian.
Are the cards suitable for daily use?
Yes. The cardstock is sturdy, the linen finish provides grip, and the cards have a matte coating. They are made to be shuffled regularly.
