15th century, Europe, fooleum, France, illumination, Latin, manuscript, primary source
Fools frequently pop up in various guises in medieval illuminations, sometimes with a scriptural connection, illustrating the line from Psalm 53 in which the fool is one who denies God: ‘The fool says in his heart “There is no God.”‘...
17th century, historical figure, Persia, Persian, primary source, quotes, stories
The Persian Safavid king Shāh ʿAbbās I (r. 1588-1629) seems to have had several jesters, including, unusually, a woman. Another jester was Kal ʿEnāyat (‘ ʿEnāyat the Bald’, d. 1608), baldness being a time-honoured attribute often associated with fools...
13th century, Europe, fooleum, France, illumination, manuscript, primary source
This outstanding illumination has a double dose of fools. The first is the fool who would presume to menace Christ, perhaps unique among fools for sporting a dog’s face, let alone his winged headgear. He also has what appears to be a fool’s...
17th century, historical figure, Persia, Persian, primary source, quotes, stories
Gianni Izzo’s excellent article on jesters of the Persian Safavid and Zand courts shines a light on additional Persian jesters (that is, perhaps ‘new’ to a Western audience). Rich new seams of anecdotes, primary sources, mini-biographies and great...
Europe, German, Germany, primary source, quotes
This German proverb begs the question as to what exactly the wise should learn from fools. Perhaps, for starters, how not to appear too wise, thereby alienating or annoying those who might benefit from your wisdom. And wrap your wisdom in a joke so that it flies...
18th century, Europe, fictive fool, primary source, quotes, Wales, Welsh
Speaking the truth, especially to power, is a risky business, occasionally even life-threatening. Better leave it to the professionals who know how to wrap it in humour so the receiver laughs before they have chance to chop anyone’s head off. This from an...
17th century, dramatic character, England, English, Europe, play, primary source, quotes
Olivia, perhaps used to being railed against, acknowledges the licence of the jester to say whatever they wish. There is no slander in an allowed fool though he do nothing but rail. Source: Shakespeare, Twelfth Night, 1.5.76-78 Image credit: A photo of actor Louis...
10th century, China, Chinese, East Asia, historical figure, primary source, quotes, stories, Tang dynasty
A skill often attributed to jesters is the capacity to improvise verse, which they could do for fun or to mock or criticize, as we’ve seen elsewhere. Here we have Jing Xinmo 鏡新磨 (Newly Polished Mirror), jester to the emperor Tang Zhuangzong 唐莊宗 (r. 923-26),...
