Differences Between the Traditional Marseille and Modern Waite Tarots

Historical Context

Tarot of Marseille: The Tarot of Marseille is one of the oldest and most influential tarot models, dating back to late medieval Europe. Research indicates that the tarot deck was likely created in northern Italy in the 15th century and brought to southern France by the end of that century. Under French influence, especially in Marseille — an important card-manufacturing center in the 17th and 18th centuries — the tarot developed its unique characteristics. Its medieval visual style, possibly influenced by Gothic stained-glass art, became established in these French-produced decks. Although originally used as a card game, the Marseille Tarot gradually attracted esoteric interest: occultists such as Antoine Court de Gébelin (18th century) and Etteilla began attributing mystical meanings to the cards, starting its oracular tradition. The name “Tarot de Marseille” itself was coined only in the 19th century (first by Roman Merlin in 1859, later popularized by Papus in 1889), retroactively referring to this French card pattern. From then on, the Marseille Tarot became the dominant tarot model in continental Europe until the early 20th century.

Waite Tarot (Rider-Waite-Smith): In contrast, the tarot created by Arthur Edward Waite emerged from the British occult revival of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. A.E. Waite was a member of the influential Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, an esoteric society dedicated to studying Hermeticism, Kabbalah, alchemy, and other mystical traditions. In 1909, Waite collaborated with artist Pamela Colman Smith — also a member of the Golden Dawn — to create a new tarot deck published by Rider & Son. Known as the Rider-Waite (or Waite-Smith) deck, it was accompanied by Waite’s book, The Pictorial Key to the Tarot (1910), where Waite elaborated on the symbolism and meanings of each card. Unlike classic European tarot decks, the Waite Tarot was intentionally designed for esoteric readings, deliberately incorporating contemporary occult concepts. Since its publication, it has become immensely popular in the English-speaking world, deeply influencing nearly all modern decks to the point where today there is a clear distinction between the “Marseille tarots” and the “Waite tarots” as principal schools.

Philosophical, Occult, and Symbolic Influences

In the Tarot of Marseille: The images of the Tarot of Marseille mainly reflect medieval Christian imagery and allegorical iconography from Renaissance Europe. Figures such as the Pope (V) and Papess (II) indicate direct influences from the religious and social structure of the time, referring to the Catholic Church, while cards like Judgment (XX, with the angel blowing a trumpet) and the Devil (XV) represent Christian concepts of salvation and temptation. Originally, however, there is no evidence that these decks were created explicitly for esoteric purposes; their primary use was recreational. Esoteric associations with the Tarot of Marseille were developed later, beginning in the 18th century when occultists started viewing tarot as a repository of ancient wisdom. Court de Gébelin, in 1781, speculated Egyptian origins for the tarot symbols; subsequently, occultists such as Éliphas Lévi (Alphonse Louis Constant) and Papus (Gérard Encausse) constructed Kabbalistic, astrological, and numerological correlations based on the Marseille deck. Lévi was particularly influential in proposing that the 22 major trumps corresponded to the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet and paths on the Kabbalistic Tree of Life, integrating astrology, alchemy, and Hermeticism into his interpretation. These occult reinterpretations did not alter the visual structure of the Tarot of Marseille but added interpretative layers to its original symbolism, connecting medieval images to esoteric concepts.

In the Waite Tarot: The Waite Tarot was deliberately conceived within a modern esoteric synthesis. Arthur E. Waite, deeply immersed in Hermetic philosophies, Western Kabbalah, and astrological symbolism as a member of the Golden Dawn, sought to embed these elements into the new deck. Waite emphasized tarot’s role in the Hermetic “secret tradition,” translating works by Éliphas Lévi himself. Consequently, the Rider-Waite-Smith deck incorporates ceremonial magic, Christian mysticism, and especially Golden Dawn teachings. For instance, the Golden Dawn taught precise astrological correspondences for the Major Arcana; to accommodate these associations, Waite rearranged the traditional card order — switching the positions of Strength and Justice — so Strength corresponded to Leo and Justice to Libra. Kabbalistic elements also permeate the deck: each Major Arcana card is connected to a Hebrew letter and spheres of the Tree of Life according to Golden Dawn teachings, though Waite chose not to explicitly depict Hebrew letters on the cards. Waite’s Hermetic philosophy also led him to use universal and archetypal symbols, slightly shifting from the exclusively Christian focus of traditional tarot.