Thoth Tarot
/ˈtoʊθ ˈtær.oʊ/noun
A tarot deck created by Aleister Crowley and illustrated by Lady Frieda Harris, incorporating Egyptian, astrological, Qabalistic, and Thelemic symbolism.
Did you know?Although the deck is named after Thoth, its imagery also draws heavily on the Western occult tradition’s identification of Thoth with Hermes, producing the idea of “Hermetic” wisdom.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Egypt
Egyptian
Ḏḥwtj
“Djehuty, the ibis-headed deity associated with writing, calculation, magic, and sacred knowledge”
Ancient Greek
Greek
Thṓth
“Greek rendering of the Egyptian god’s name”
15th Century
Italian
tarocchi
“A card game and its special pack of cards; the ultimate origin of the term is uncertain”
16th Century
French
tarot
“A pack of illustrated playing cards used for the tarot game”
1909–1944
English
Thoth Tarot
“The title of Crowley’s planned tarot work, developed with artwork by Frieda Harris”
1969
English
The Book of Thoth
“Published name of the explanatory book accompanying the Thoth Tarot deck”
Explore more surprising origins