jester
Sign in to saveA jester, also known as joker, court jester, or fool, was a member of the household of a nobleman or a monarch kept to entertain guests at the royal court. Jesters were also travelling performers who entertained common folk at fairs and town markets, and the discipline continues into the modern day, where jesters perform at historical-themed events. Jester-like figures were common throughout the world, including ancient Rome, China, Persia, and the Aztec Empire.
AI overview
A jester was an entertainer employed by nobles or monarchs to amuse guests at court, or a traveling performer who entertained ordinary people at markets and fairs. The role was widespread across many ancient civilizations and continues today at historical events, making it a significant form of entertainment across cultures and centuries.
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Key facts
- Performing art.image
- Heinrich Vogtherr d. J. Schalksnarr.JPG
- Performing art.caption
- Woodcut of a jester by Heinrich Vogtherr the Younger, c. 1540
via Wikipedia infobox
Article
22 sectionsContents
- Etymology
- History
- ''Balatrones''
- English royal court jesters
- Jester's privilege
- Political significance
- End of tradition
- Other countries
- In fiction
- In tarot
- Modern usage
- Buffoon
- Carnival and medieval reenactment
- Notable jesters
- Historical
- Modern-day jesters
- Fictional jesters
- Gallery
- See also
- Footnotes
- References
- External links
A jester, also known as joker, court jester, or fool, was a member of the household of a nobleman or a monarch kept to entertain guests at the royal court. Jesters were also travelling performers who entertained common folk at fairs and town markets, and the discipline continues into the modern day, where jesters perform at historical-themed events. Jester-like figures were common throughout the world, including ancient Rome, China, Persia, and the Aztec Empire.
During the post-classical and Renaissance eras, jesters are often thought to have worn brightly coloured clothes and eccentric hats in a motley pattern. Jesters entertained with a wide variety of skills: principal among them were song, music, and storytelling, but many also employed acrobatics, juggling, telling jokes (such as puns and imitation), and performing magic tricks. Much of the entertainment was performed in a comic style. Many jesters made contemporary jokes in word or song about people or events well known to their audiences.