firemaiden
While re-reading the page on Andy's Playing Cards (who is Andy?) about Mamluk cards I was astonished to read, (and to realize I had not noticed before) that the Mamluk cards each are inscribed with a different aphorism:
I'd love to know what all the aphorisms were. I'd love to know their purpose was (assuming it is not solely decorative). Fortune cookie anyone?
At the top of the court cards, in a blue rectangle very similar to the bottom one, is a saying or aphorism (a different one is found in each card). Their meaning is often obscure, or highly idiomatic; for instance, the second viceroy of Tûmân says:
LET IT COME TO ME, BECAUSE
ACQUIRED GOOD IS DURABLE;
IT REJOYCES ME
WITH ALL ITS UTILITY
Only one of the subjects, the second viceroy of Polo-sticks, lacks the blue rectangle at the bottom, but still has the top one.
I'd love to know what all the aphorisms were. I'd love to know their purpose was (assuming it is not solely decorative). Fortune cookie anyone?