The Wayback Machine - https://web.archive.org/web/20050408022856/http://www.eleves.ens.fr:8080/home/madore/misc/cards.html

Courts on playing cards

ENS
ENS students
David Madore
Prof. site
Site Root
Site Map
WebLog

Kings

Spades

Called “David” on the French deck, probably after the biblical character. He holds a scepter in one hand, and a harp is visible below it (confirming the biblical attribution). He faces forward, a little to the left. On the English deck, he holds a sword. He faces forward, a little to the right.

Hearts

Called “Charles” on the French deck, probably after Charles the Great (Charlemagne) — or perhaps after French king Charles VII. He holds a sword. He faces forward, a little to the right. On the English deck, he also holds a sword (above his head), and both his hands are visible. Unlike the other kings, he does not have a mustache. He faces forward, a little to the left.

Diamonds

Called “César” on the French deck, probably after Julius Cæsar. He has no distinguishing attribute, and no visible hands. He faces right, and is seen in profile. On the English deck, he has an axe behind him, and one hand sticking in front of him. He faces left, and is seen in profile.

Clubs

Called “Alexandre” on the French deck, probably after Alexander the Great. He holds a scepter in one hand, with a shield (?) just below it. He faces forward, a little to the right. On the English deck, he holds a sword in his hand, with an imperial orb just beside it (seemingly floating in air). He faces forward, a little to the left.

Queens

Spades

Called “Pallas” on the French deck, possibly after the Greek goddess Athena. She faces left, and is seen in profile. On the English deck, she is the only queen with a scepter. She faces forward, a little to the right.

Hearts

Called “Judith” on the French deck, probably after the biblical character (or perhaps after Judith of Bavaria). She faces forward, a little to the left. On the English deck, she also faces forward, a little to the left (she is not reversed with respect to the French deck).

Diamonds

Called “Rachel” on the French deck, possibly after the biblical character. She faces forward, a little to the right. On the English deck, she faces forward, a little to the left.

Clubs

Called “Argine” on the French deck, an anagram of latin “regina” (“queen”); some have suggested that the name may (also) be related to the Greek Argos. She is the only queen not holding a flower. She faces forward, a little to the right. On the English deck, she does hold a flower like the other queens. She faces forward, a little to the left.

Jacks (knaves)

Spades

Called “Hogier” on the French deck: origin is uncertain, but perhaps after Ogier the Dane from the Song of Rolland. He has a feather in his hat. He faces forward, a little to the right. On the English deck, he holds an unidentifiable object (initially a spear). He has a mustache. He faces right, and is seen in profile.

Hearts

Called “Lahire” on the French deck: origin is uncertain, but may refer to Étienne “La Hire” de Vignolles, companion of arms to Joan of Arc. He faces forward, a little to the left, and his face is a little slanted to the left. On the English deck, he also holds a leaf, and has an axe behind his head. He has a mustache. He faces left, and is seen in profile.

Diamonds

Called “Hector” on the French deck, possibly not after the Trojan hero, but perhaps after a companion (brother?) of Lancelot. He faces right, and is seen in profile. On the English deck, he holds a sword. He faces forward, a little to the left.

Clubs

Called “Lancelot” on the French deck, probably after the Arthurian hero. He holds a shield (?) attached to a string. He faces forward, a little to the left. On the English deck, he holds an unreadable object (originally an arrow). There is a feather sticking from his hat. He faces forward, a little to the right.

---

David Madore (davidmadoreensfr)

Last modified: $Id: cards.daml,v 1.1 2003/08/26 14:52:47 david Exp $