Mythos Tarot Review: A Stunning Greek Mythology Tarot Deck ⋆ Angelorum

The Mythos Tarot deck displayed on deep crimson velvet. In the foreground, a hand holds the guidebook featuring a luminous goddess crowned with laurel leaves and peacock feathers, titled Mythos Tarot: Guidance from the Greek Gods by Helena Elias. Behind it sits the deck box, while a neatly stacked pile of cards shows the elegant reversible card back design with mirrored winged figures and Greek-inspired motifs. Two cards are displayed face up: the Queen of Coins as Rhea, seated between two lions, and the Wheel of Fortune as Demeter, crowned with flowers and holding a sheaf of grain. The warm gold, cream, and rose tones create a luxurious, mythic atmosphere that reflects the deck's Greek mythology theme.

Earlier this year, I felt called to dive back into the Greek myths and connect more deeply with several of their deities. As a result, you’ll now find articles about many of them on the Hellenic Polytheism resources page I created as a hub for all things HelPol.

During the past few months of working with this pantheon, I dug out my trusty old Mythic Tarot. While I have thoroughly enjoyed reconnecting with the deck and spending time with its excellent companion book, I found myself wondering whether any newer Greek mythology-themed Tarot decks had been published in recent years.

That search led me to the Mythos Tarot by Helena Elias, published by Rockpool Publishing (affiliate link: https://amzn.to/4vzzWhn).

The timing felt almost perfect.

It had been a long time since I last purchased a Tarot deck. My studies of the Tarot de Marseille largely cured me of impulse-buying decks simply because they looked pretty. These days, if a deck doesn’t align with my spiritual interests or offer something genuinely distinctive, I rarely feel tempted.

The Mythos Tarot immediately caught my attention because of its artwork. Unlike many mythology-themed Tarot decks, the illustrations felt alive, powerful, and deeply evocative. The deck draws on gods, goddesses, heroes, titans, nymphs, and other figures from Greek mythology, presenting them through richly detailed portraiture. (See the complete flip-through video below.)

Mythos Tarot Flip-through to Music

At the same time, I had a significant reservation.

As beautiful as the artwork appeared, I wasn’t convinced I would be able to read with a deck that consists primarily of portraits. The Tarot de Marseille taught me to appreciate symbolic interaction, movement, and visual storytelling. The Rider-Waite-Smith system also relies heavily on narrative scenes. The Mythos Tarot seemed to offer something very different.

Could a collection of mythological portraits function as a practical Tarot deck, or would it remain simply a beautiful art object?

That question ultimately convinced me to give it a try.

Mythos Tarot at a Glance

Creator: Helena Elias

Publisher: Rockpool Publishing

System: Rider-Waite-Smith inspired

Cards: 78

Theme: Greek mythology

Guidebook: 172 pages, fully illustrated

Artwork Style: Full-colour portrait illustrations

Ideal For: Mythology lovers, intuitive readers, Hellenic polytheists, and readers seeking a fresh visual approach to the Tarot

First Impressions

The first thing that struck me upon opening the box was the sheer beauty of the artwork and the luxurious feel of the gilded edges.

Each card feels like a painted portrait worthy of a gallery wall. Rather than depicting scenes or actions, most cards focus on a single mythological figure whose expression, posture, and symbolism convey the energy of the card.

The production quality is excellent. The cardstock is glossy and flexible without being too thin. Shuffling is smooth once the cards have been unstuck. Cards from decks with gilded or coloured edges tend to stick together more, and that is also true of the Mythos Tarot. The printing is crisp, and the colours are rich without becoming overly saturated. With fully reversible card backs, this deck will work well for those who choose to read with reversals. Reversed meanings are also included in the guidebook.

The guidebook deserves special mention. It provides enough mythological context for readers who may not be familiar with every character while remaining useful for both beginners and experienced Tarot readers.

As someone who has spent the last few months reading Greek myths, hymns, and ancient sources, I appreciated seeing lesser-known figures represented alongside the more familiar Olympian gods. The only thing I’d like to have seen more of is the monsters of Greek mythology.

The Artwork

A Living Mythological World

One of the greatest strengths of the Mythos Tarot is the way it treats mythology as something alive.

Many mythology-themed decks simply assign mythological names to existing Tarot cards. The Mythos Tarot goes much further. The figures chosen for each card feel thoughtfully matched to the underlying archetype.

Whether portraying gods, heroes, titans, nymphs, queens, or legendary mortals, the artwork captures emotional depth and personality rather than relying on decorative mythology.

As someone who has spent a great deal of time recently exploring the myths through both devotional practice and study, I found many of the card assignments surprisingly effective. That doesn’t mean I agree with all of the artist’s choices, but being forced to think outside the box isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Portraits Instead of Stories

This is where my biggest hesitation came in.

Tarot readers are accustomed to narrative images. We read movement, interaction, direction, symbolism, and relationships between figures.

The Mythos Tarot largely abandons this approach.

Most cards present a single figure.

Initially, I worried this would make the deck difficult to read.

In practice, I discovered something unexpected.

The portraits invite a different style of reading.

Rather than asking, “What is happening in this scene?” I found myself asking, “Who is this person?” and “What quality are they embodying?”

The reading experience becomes more psychological and character-driven.

For readers who enjoy mythology, this creates a fascinating additional layer.

The Emotional Power of the Art

What ultimately sold me on the deck was the emotional resonance of the artwork.

Many Tarot decks contain beautiful illustrations.

Far fewer create an immediate emotional response.

Again and again, I found myself pausing over particular cards simply because the figures felt present.

The expressions, body language, lighting, and symbolism combine to create images that linger in the memory long after the cards are put away. A couple of the figures that stood out to me were Dionysus (perfect as The Hierophant) and Ares as the Knight of Swords. The Knight of Swords is my personal birthday courtier, and I connected with his energy immediately.

Reading with the Mythos Tarot

This was the real test.

A deck can be beautiful without being useful.

Fortunately, the Mythos Tarot proved to be surprisingly readable.

The mythological correspondences support the meanings rather than replacing them. Readers already familiar with the Rider-Waite-Smith system will have little difficulty understanding the cards.

At the same time, the mythology adds depth and nuance.

Certain cards immediately gain additional layers when viewed through the lens of the chosen figure’s story, relationships, virtues, flaws, and fate.

What surprised me most was how quickly the deck began speaking in its own voice.

The portraits became gateways into the archetypes rather than obstacles.

Next, I became curious about how well the deck would pair with the Tarot de Marseille. I felt the Black & Gold TdM would make the perfect visual match… and I wasn’t wrong!

Who Is This Deck For?

You will probably enjoy the Mythos Tarot if:

You love Greek mythology
You are interested in Hellenic polytheism
You enjoy intuitive Tarot reading
You appreciate character-driven artwork

This deck may not be the best fit if:

You rely on scenic imagery to trigger interpretation
You prefer traditional Tarot iconography
You want strict historical symbolism

This deck can certainly work for beginners, though I would recommend learning the traditional Tarot meanings alongside the mythological associations presented here.

Final Thoughts

The Mythos Tarot succeeded in doing something I did not expect.

It persuaded me that a portrait-based Tarot deck can be a genuinely effective reading tool.

The artwork first attracted me to the deck, but the reading experience convinced me to keep it.

For anyone who loves Greek mythology, works with the Greek gods, or simply wants a Tarot deck that feels both beautiful and psychologically rich, the Mythos Tarot is well worth exploring.

It has already earned a place on my reading table, which is perhaps the highest compliment I can give any new deck.