Tarot Through the Eyes of a Historian. Major Arcana from the Renaissance to the Belle Époque

The book by the famous religion scholar and historian Konstantin Mikhailov is a scientific study of the phenomenon of Tarot cards – from their inception during the Renaissance to a new surge in popularity in recent decades. What symbols are encoded in the images of the major arcana and why have these images themselves changed from era to era? How did the wandering Fool from the early Tarot deck become the powerful Magician, while the old man with the hourglass, symbolizing Time, transform into the Hermit with a lantern, bearing the light of secret knowledge? What influence did great figures like Sandro Botticelli and Giovanni Boccaccio have on the image of the Tower? The author shows how in Tarot medieval Christian allegories intertwined with ancient mythology, Renaissance philosophy, alchemical and Masonic symbolism. This edition is addressed to everyone interested in the history of art and symbols in world culture, regardless of whether they are fascinated by Tarot or not.