2006-06-30 A great linking of tarot and Greek mythology

If you are interested in the tarot and Greek mythology, then this is a deck you most definitely should have. If you are familiar with Greek myths it is also an ideal place to start learning the tarot and is as such a brilliant starter's deck.
The reason for this is that Sharman-Burke combines various myths with the suits and arcana of the tarot. For example the Hierophant is depicted as Chiron the centaur, one of the great teachers of knowledge in mythology, who taught Achilles and Odysseus among others. The suits tell the story of four different myths, the separate cards showing important stages and illustrating the meaning of that card of the minor arcane. For example cups illustrate the myth of Eros and Psyche through the numbers one to ten, each card marking an important stage (cup four for example is when Eros leaves Psyche after she has broken her promise and found out who he is). This system works well and makes it easier to remember what each cards represents (I will now never forget the divinatory meaning of the star, a card I have always had difficulties with, which here is an illustration of hope fluttering above Pandora's box).
As helpful and good as the system is, it does have its flaws and some pairings of myth and card seem rather forced (e.g. the tower) or some vital stages of the myths in the suits left out and less important ones emphasised to fit the meanings of the minor arcana. Other truly minor quibbles I have is that the illustrations seem rather wooden at times and that there is no box to keep the cards in.
The cards come with an explanatory book which is very detailed and informative for any tarot deck, but explains the mythic tarot brilliantly. The book alone is well worth having.
All in all this is a tarot deck I thoroughly recommend. I have used it for readings and found it to be easy to use, but very profound too. I love it!