This deck is one I have had my eye on for a while.  Considered by some to be one of the better "Egyptian" decks, this tarot has been based on older works than the Rider-Waite deck, and the symbolism is older and more unusual.  However, I was disappointed to find several errors contained in the deck.

The cards are the same narrower size as the Native American Tarot and the Art Nouveau Tarot.  The Major Arcana cards have all been completely renamed from the traditional names.  The suits are Sceptres, Swords, Cups and Pentacles.  The court cards have also been renamed; in place of kings, queens, knights and pages, there are masters, mistresses, warriors and slaves.

The numbered cards themselves are interesting, because the number of items shown creates patterns which are symbolic in and of themselves.  There are no real pictures in the numbered cards other than the number of items.

The High Priestess card is replaced with the Gate of the Sanctuary, which is misspelled on the card.  Bill took great exception to the blades featured in the cards.  European-style swords are used in the swords suit, and the curved knives carried by many of the figures are plain fantastical.  Additionally, the swords are drawn in steel, not bronze as they would have been in the Egyptian dynasties.

However, technical difficulties aside, this is a nice-looking deck, the artwork is very stylish and looks completely within Egyptian character.  The deck shuffles easily and is comfortable to work with, although I would imagine its symbolism would be most meaningful to those fluent in Egyptology.

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Review Copyright 1998 by Gina M. Pace