The Cleopatra Tarot

Measurements: 2.6 x 4.72 inches, or 66 x 120 mm.

Back of card: Two nicely drawn standing figures. The one on the left is inverted, the one on the right is upright. They are identical otherwise. Each has a staff in her left hand, an ankh in her right. They are draped from ankles to just below the breasts, which are uncovered. The headdress is the red ball sort. They are on a parchment background. Top & bottom is the many-feathered wing, which has been used to represent the third eye. With a turquoise border, the backs of the cards do not contrast well with the fronts.

Booklet included: Yes, 64 pages, 2.6 x 4.74 inches, or 66 x 120 mm. Instructions in English, Italian, Spanish, French & German.

Publisher: Lo Scarabeo. Printed in Italy, imported by Llewellyn Worldwide.

Comments: The booklet gives the usual biographical notes on Cleopatra, adding that she brought back worship of traditional Egyptian gods. Which becomes the excuse for this deck, as there is otherwise nothing that relates any of it to Cleopatra herself.

In this deck there are no marks to distinguish major arcana from pip cards, without actually looking at the titles at the top. Both have the same yellow numbers. Uniquely, court cards have no numbers, and without looking at the titles, it is hard to distinguish pentacles from swords from cups from wands. Or fronts from backs.

The artist, Sylvana Alasia, has created numerous Egyptian tarot decks. Among them, The Egyptian Tarot Deck and Nefertari's Tarots, as well as the Etruscan Tarot. Her Tarot of the Sphynx is now out of print. I confess that as I know nothing about ancient Egyptian culture, I have nothing more to add.

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