tarocchi
Minor Arcana
The minor arcana are the 56 cards of the tarot divided into four suits (Wands, Cups, Swords, Coins/Pentacles in Italian tarots; Wands, Cups, Swords, Pentacles in the Rider-Waite). They describe the themes of daily life, complementary to the 22 major arcana which deal with the great archetypes.
Structure
Each suit is composed of ten numerical cards (from ace to ten) plus four court figures: Page, Knight, Queen and King. Wands = Fire/action; Cups = Water/feelings; Swords = Air/thought; Pentacles = Earth/matter. Each number has a meaning (ace = potential, 5 = challenge, 10 = fulfillment) that combines with the theme of the suit.
The Rider-Waite innovation
In traditional decks (Marseille) the numerical minor arcana were not illustrated with narrative scenes but only with the geometric arrangement of the suits. In the Rider-Waite (1909) Pamela Colman Smith illustrated each card with a life scene: this innovation made the deck much more accessible to intuitive reading and influenced all subsequent cartomancy.
FAQ
How many are there in total?
Fifty-six: 10 numerical cards × 4 suits + 4 court figures × 4 suits = 56.
Difference between Page and Knight?
The Page represents a message or a young person bringing news; the Knight indicates action, journey or impulse. King and Queen are mature figures of authority in their suit.
Which suit is "best"?
None. Each suit speaks of a life area (action, feelings, mind, matter). A balanced reading usually has multiple suits.