Pub Quiz thread

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colognehornet said:
As far as I know the game originated in Persia and was called Shah (King) and initially had only male figures. The Queen may have arrived into the game either with the Christianization or Islamification of the area - but with powers little more than that of Pawns, also Bishops and Rooks had a lesser role. .
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You're on the right track cologne - the initial game had all male figures, but had its roots in India. What I'm looking for is the reason why one piece suddenly changed gender - the answer has something to do with the circuitous route the game took from India to Spain and Europe in general.
 
The answer I was looking for was to do with language. In the original Indian game, the piece was known by the Sanskrit word mantri (minister), this translated into the Persian word farzin, which in turn became the Arabic word firz. When the game reached Europe - in particular, France - firz became fierge - which is close to vierge, French for virgin. Religious fervour at the time saw the 'virgin' as the mother of Jesus - and the chess piece became the 'Queen of Heaven'.

So the story goes anyway...

Who wants to take over?
 
Dr Spock's blood was/is red. I'm not sure if he is still alive but he repudiated all his earlier ideas on potty training.
Don't know the colour of Mr Spock's blood.
 
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