aphorisms on the Mamluk cards

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:

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?

Ross G Caldwell

That is a good question, I would like to see all of the aphorisms too. I believe the deck (what remains of it) was published in facsimile, and if you can track down a copy I'm sure the editors will have translated all of the aphorisms.

Ross G Caldwell

firemaiden said:
... (who is Andy?) ...

Andy Pollett is an Italian who lives in Rome, if I am not mistaken.

firemaiden

Thanks Ross

Now you've gotten me interested in finding this facsimile!

aphorisms on the Mamluk cards

firemaiden

Ross G Caldwell

Ross G Caldwell

firemaiden