Dante
Tarot inspired by Dante's Divine Comedy exploring Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso.
by Andrea Serio, Giordano Berti · 2001
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The record
The Dante Tarot was inspired by the life and creations of Dante Alighieri, who was an Italian poet born in 1265. He is best known for his Divina Commedia (Divine Comedy), a poem that describes a journey into the three parts of the Christian afterlife: Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso - Hell, Purgatory and Heaven. As there is no real relationship between Dante Alighieri and the Tarot, the four suits and the major arcana cards, or Trionfi, have been transformed to fit with Dantesque themes. The suit of Bricks (Pentacles) traces Dante's life, depicting influential characters, his work, and his marriage ups and down. It begins with Florence, and Studies, moving on to First Love, The Court of Love, sliding into Bad Company and ending up in Marriage. Then comes the enemy, followed by Simoniac Popes, the Lady of Stone and finally Cino di Pistoia. The court cards are various backers, advisors and friends. The other three suits correspond to the sections of the Divine Comedy. Flames (Swords) depict the main events shown in Dante's Inferno and are accordingly grim. Cards feature Charon, Cerberus, The suicides, and the King of Flames, Lucifer. The suit of Clouds (Pentacles) shows slices of P
The cards
