deal me in

the suits on cards apparently equate to four historical cultures with clubs, spades, diamonds, and hearts representing Greece, the Middle East, Rome, and the Holy Roman Empire respectively.

the four kings also represent famous kings from history. the king of spades represents the biblical King David, and the king of clubs is Alexander the Great. Julius Caesar is supposedly depicted by the king of diamonds, while the king of hearts is said to represent Charles the Great, or King Charlemagne.