Tarot. Origin, meaning, and use of the cards

Tarot cards are likely the first European playing cards, the predecessors of our modern deck. However, the classic Tarot deck differs from its more famous descendants in several characteristic ways. Although the cards began to spread in Italy, France, and Germany by the end of the 14th century, the time, place, and circumstances of their origin remain a mystery. The beautiful and intricate images, especially on the twenty-two cards of the major arcana, represent a puzzle that has never been completely solved. Who created them and what were they meant to show?