Some claim her to be Pope Joan—a mythical medieval woman who rose to the ranks of pope by pretending to be a man and was only discovered once she gave birth. Because this card replaced what was La Papessa in the Visconti Tarrocchi deck—the most complete historical example still in existence believed to be the inspiration for what later became the Tarot—she still carries this association. The Visconti family who commissioned the deck were said to be descendants from a live woman who belonged to a religious sect that tried to make it possible for women popes. Their ancestor was burned for this, and it's believed that is why they included La Popessa in their deck. It should be noted, their deck pre-dates the esoteric uses for the cards. Theirs was a deck intended to use in playing a game.