Whether it’s for solo games like solitaire, games played with friends such as battle, rummy, belote, queen of spades, or American eight, or casino games like poker, blackjack, and other card games, we’re all familiar with their kings, queens, and jacks. Yet we sometimes forget that the figures on playing cards are depictions of mythical and legendary characters.
The spikes
The King
David was a shepherd who became the legendary king of Israel. He is best known for his victory over the giant Goliath, whom he defeated armed only with his sling. He is the epitome of the ideal king, a skilled politician and strategist.
The lady
Behind the name Pallas lies Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom and war. Pallas is a name associated with her, often used to refer to her virgin aspect, while the associated name Nike refers to her victorious aspect.
The Jack
Ogier the Dane (or Hogier) is one of the legendary figures of the Cycle of the King and the Song of Roland. In it, he fights the Saracens alongside Charlemagne and slays the giant Bréhus.
Hearts
The King
Although historically a king and later an emperor, Charlemagne (marked as “Charles” on maps) is also a legendary figure. Many tales have been told about him, including those involving his sword Joyeuse, as well as stories about his paladins. Some, such as Roland and his sword Durandal, are both historical and legendary, while others, such as Astolfo and Bradamante, are entirely fictional.
The lady
Judith is a biblical figure from the book bearing her name. In it, she is a Jewish widow of great beauty who, through her ingenuity, manages to free her people from the Assyrians by beheading Holofernes, their general. She is thus associated with the Jewish people’s victory over their enemies.
The Jack
La Hire, whose real name was Étienne de Vignolles, was not a fictional character, but a real figure from the Hundred Years’ War. A military leader, he fought alongside Joan of Arc and believed in her during the Siege of Orléans. This contributed to his legend, as he had stood by the saint’s side.
Tiles
The King
Although he is not a legendary figure but a historical one, Julius Caesar remains one of the greatest Romans: a general who achieved numerous conquests thanks to his keen sense of strategy and tactics, as well as a statesman and writer.
The lady
Rachel is a biblical figure, the wife of Jacob. When Jacob wanted to marry her, Laban, Rachel’s father, thwarted his proposal by offering him Leah, his eldest daughter. Jacob eventually managed to marry Rachel. When they wanted to have children, Rachel turned out to be barren and grew jealous of her sister Leah, who was not. When Leah in turn became barren and was given mandrakes to cure her, Rachel ate the fruit instead of the roots and became fertile. She then gave birth to a son whom she named Joseph.
The Jack
One of the most important figures of the Trojan War, Hector is the son of King Priam and the city’s greatest warrior. His duel with Achilles is one of the most significant battles of the conflict.
Clover
The King
One of the greatest kings in history, never defeated and responsible for numerous conquests, Alexander the Great is a historical figure about whom many stories have been told. However, his life is also a myth, due not only to certain facts but also to certain episodes that contain mythological elements or are the source of such myths. Bucephalus, the Gordian Knot, and Babylon are just a few examples.
The lady
The identity of this figure is uncertain. However, there are two theories about her. The first suggests that her name, Argine, is an anagram of “regina,” which means “queen” in Latin. The second, which interests us more, is that she is Argie, the mother of the famous shipbuilder Argos—the man who built the ship that carried Jason and his Argonauts on their quest for the Golden Fleece.
The Jack
Considered the greatest knight of the Round Table, Lancelot is a paragon of chivalry. His exploits (the Sorrowful Watch, the Valley of No Return, the Bridge of the Sword), his quest for the Grail, and his love for Guinevere have made him a legend.
Images: Depositphotos, Wikipedia
