Deck of Cards

[Tombstone]

Did you know?...Each king in a deck of playing cards represents a great king from history.

Spades - King David

Hearts - Charlemagne

Clubs - Alexander the Great

Diamonds - Julius Caesar

This may be a true claim on modern day cards and specific editions.

Bill points out some good information here:

http://www.forumgarden.com/forums/showp ... ostcount=6

In summary, the court cards in decks of playing cards were not initially identified by name. The assignation of identities to the kings (as well as the queens and knaves) was a temporary practice unique to French card masters that began around the mid-15th century, was not standardized for some time, and was discontinued at the end of the 18th century. The royal figures on modern playing cards no more represent specific persons than do the kings and queens in chess sets.

[capt_buzzard]

Same here. There is more in Heaven and on the Earth than we realize.



I heard of a song many years by that title A Deck of Cards, don't know the words.

[gmc]

Sorry couldn't resist it

emperor // n.

1 the sovereign of an empire.

2 a sovereign of higher rank than a king.

emperorship n.

[Middle English via Old French emperere, empereor from Latin imperator -oris, from imperare ‘command’]

Julius Caesar : ist Emperor of Rome

Charlemegne : head of the Holy Roman Empire i.e

emperorhttp://www.lucidcafe.com/library/96apr/charlemagne.html

Alexander also became emperor of more than one kingdom

I hate pedants don't you?

[Bill Sikes]

Erm, I don't want to get a reputation for being argumentative or pedantic, but:

http://www.snopes.com/history/world/cardking.htm



is an interesting read. There's a lot of stuff there that will have you in stitches.

[Tombstone]

Good information. I've edited the first post to reflect more data.

[Bronwen]

capt_buzzard wrote: I heard of a song many years by that title A Deck of Cards, don't know the words.It was more of a recitation than a song. Written and originally recorded by the late T. Texas Tyler, it was 'covered' by Phil Harris, Tex Ritter, Wink Martindale, and many other performers. Here it is:

During the North African Campaign, a bunch of soldier boys had been on a long hike. They arrived in a little town called Casino. The next morning being Sunday, several of the boys went to church. A sergeant commanded the boys in church.

After the Chaplain read the prayer, the text was taken up next. Those of the boys that had a prayer book took them out. One boy had only a deck of cards, and he spread them out. The sergeant saw the cards and said, "Soldier, put away those cards." After the service was over, the soldier was taken prisoner and brought before the Provost Marshal.

The Marshal said, "Sergeant, why have you brought this man here?"

"For playing cards in church, Sir," was the response.

The Marshal asked the soldier, "And what have you to say for yourself, son?"

"Much, Sir," replied the soldier.

The Marshal stated, "I hope so, for if not I will punish you more than any man was ever punished."

The soldier said, "Sir, I have been on the march for about six months. I have neither bible nor a prayer book, but I hope to satisfy you, sir, with the purity of my intentions." And with that, the boy started his story ...

"You see, sir, when I look at the Ace, it reminds me that there is but one God.

And the deuce reminds me that the bible is divided into two parts: the Old and the New Testaments.

When I see the trey, I think of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

And when I see the four, I think of the four evangelists who preached the Gospel: there was Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

And when I see the five, it reminds me of the five wise virgins who trimmed their lamps; there were ten of them: five were wise and were saved, five were foolish and were shut out.

When I see the six, it reminds me that in six days God made this heaven and earth.

And when I see the seven, it reminds me that on the seventh day, God rested from his great work.

And when I see the eight, I think of the eight righteous persons that God saved when he destroyed the earth: there was Noah, his wife, their sons and their wives.

And when I see the nine, I think of the lepers our saviour cleansed, and that nine of the ten didn't even thank him.

When I see the ten, I think of the ten commandments that God handed down to Moses on a tablet of stone.

When I see the King, it reminds me that there is but one King of Heaven, God Almighty.

And when I see the Queen, I think of the blessed Virgin Mary who is the Queen of Heaven.

And the Jack or Knave is the Devil.

When I count the number of spots in a deck of cards, I find 365, the number of days in a year.

There are 52 cards, the number of weeks in a year.

There are four suits, the number of weeks in a month.

There are twelve picture cards, the number of months in a year.

There are thirteen tricks, the number of weeks in a quarter.

So you see, Sir, my deck of cards serves me as a bible, an almanac and a prayer book."

And friends, this story is true.

I know ... I was that soldier