The positively Abrahamic game of Chess
[ by Charles Cameron — interfaith rivalry on the checkered board ]
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Many of you will be familiar with the Christian and Muslim playing chess in this illustration from El Libro de los Juegos or Book of Games of Alfonso X of Castile:
"Book of games" by Alfonso X "The Wise".King of Castile and León. 1238.(El libro de los juegos). pic.twitter.com/iRUgZfqSpm
— art (@art3666) July 16, 2016
— but let’s not forget that Andalusia was also home to learned Jews, including the great Maimonides. In this illustration to the same work, we see a match-up between Muslim and Jew:
A Jew & a Muslim playing chess in al-Andalus.
El Libro de los Juegos, commissioned by Alphonse X of Castile, 13th c pic.twitter.com/dEuwAkAfmS— Bibliophilia (@Libroantiguo) August 23, 2016
