About this item
- A Tarot of the mythology and culture of the Scandinavian invaders, the Vikings. The card art of the Vikings Tarot
- features natural-looking watercolours, and the symbology is based on the Rider-Waite.
Specifications
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Name
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Vikings Tarot
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Creators
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Manfredi Toraldo,
Sergio Tisselli
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Publisher
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Lo Scarabeo 2003
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Deck Type
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Tarot Deck
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Cards
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78
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Major Arcana
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22
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Minor Arcana
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56
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Deck Tradition
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Mixed
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Minor Arcana Style
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Unique Scenes With Suit Symbols
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Chalices, Swords, Wands, Pentacles
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Court Cards
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The Fool
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is 0
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Strength
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is 8
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Justice
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is 11
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Card Size
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2.60 x 4.72 in. = 6.60cm x 12.00cm
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Card Language
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English
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Card Back
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Reversible
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Reviews
The concept for Viking Tarot deck is from Manfredi Toraldo, who also created the Olympus Tarot and Durer Tarot (also published by Lo Scarabeo). The artwork is by Sergio Tisselli, new to the world of Tarot art. The deck is based on the culture and legends of the 'Vikings', a loose term for the groups of Scandinavian raiders who invaded and settled parts of Europe, Britain, and even North America in the ninth to eleventh centuries. They have a reputation for being barbarians, heroic and bloodthirsty warriors, but they also had a complex and diverse culture that included merchants, craftsmen, traders and farmers.
The two distinct groups of gods in Norse mythology, the Aesir and the Vanir are both represented in the cards. The Aesir are the 'supreme' gods, like Loki, Frigg, Thor and Odin, and have been associated with the major arcana. The Vanir are the indigenous gods of agriculture & domestic life, and these have been linked with the suit of Chalices. Wands are represented by Giants, Pentacles by Dwarves & Elves (with blue skin and pointed ears). Men, as intelligent beings and the 'instruments of destiny' represent the Swords suit. The Vikings were a male-oriented culture, so the Vikings Tarot does reflect this. Women are by no means omitted, but the majority of cards do depict men or male entities in action.
The art appears to be watercolour, and has a misty, slightly dreamy effect. The colours are muted and occasionally dull - lots of browns and greys - but that is natural. The art style is consistent across the whole deck, but the cards have an individuality rather than a sameness. I like the effective use of sky, lighting and background in these cards. The background matches the story of the card and is an extra visual clue. Happy scenes like the Ten of Cups have a clear blue sky, the Eight of Chalices has a sunset, and mixed cards like the Ten of Wands or the Moon have a partially clouded sky. Clear light plays around the Magician, the Hierophant is illuminated in his dark chamber by a single shaft of light, while the Devil has a background of rocks and snow. Out of all the cards, my favourite card is the Queen of Chalices. She is purple-clad and with a diadem on her brow, cup in both hands. She sits on the snowy shores of a reflective lake, and above her the sky blazes with a thousand stars.
The Vikings Tarot brings alive the mystery and magic of this bloodthirsty yet poetic Nordic culture, while its symbology retains recognisable links with traditional tarot. The Viking Tarot deck is one that could be easily picked and up and read with by anyone with some Tarot experience.
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