Editing Jester (section)

=== ''Balatrones'' ===
In [[ancient Rome]], a '''{{lang|la|balatro}}''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|b|a:|l|a:|t|r|o:}} {{Respelling|BAH|lah|troh}}) was a professional jester or buffoon.<ref>[[Horace]] Sat. i. 2. 2. (cited by Allen)</ref> {{lang|la|Balatrones}} were paid for their jests, and the tables of the wealthy were generally open to them for the sake of the amusement they afforded.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=f79ZzLC_4JsC&dq=Balatrones+were+paid+for+their+jests,+and+the+tables+of+the+wealthy+were+generally+open+to+them&pg=PA132 |title=Notes and Queries: A Medium of Inter-Communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, Etc |date=1868 |publisher=Bell |language=en}}</ref>

There are various theories about the origin of the term. In [[Horace]], Balatro is used as a proper name: {{lang|la|Servilius Balatro}}.<ref>Sat ii. 8. 21 (cited by Allen)</ref> An old scholiast derives the common word {{lang|la|balatro}} from the proper name, suggesting that buffoons were called {{lang|la|balatrones}} because {{lang|la|Servilius Balatro}} was a buffoon, though others have since objected to this account. [[Sextus Pompeius Festus|Festus]] derives the word from {{lang|la|blatea}}, and supposes buffoons to have been called {{lang|la|balatrones}} because they were dirty fellows, covered with spots of mud ({{lang|la|blateae}}) from walking.<ref>Pauli Diaconi excerpta ex libris Pompeii Festi de significatione verborum, liber II, [https://archive.org/stream/mverriiflacciqua01verruoft#page/108/mode/2up sub voce]. See also [https://archive.org/stream/deverborumsigni00fest#page/34/mode/2up here].</ref> Another writer suggests a derivation from {{lang|la|barathrum}}, because they, so to speak, carried their jesting to market, even into the very depth ({{lang|la|barathrum}}) of the shambles ({{lang|la|barathrum macelli}})<ref>Hor. Ep. i. 15. 31. (cited by Allen)</ref> {{lang|la|Balatro}} may be connected with {{lang|la|balare}}, "to bleat like a sheep", and hence, to speak sillily. Others have suggested a connection with {{lang|la|blatero}}, a busy-body.<ref>Gell. i. 15. (cited by Allen)</ref>

Jester-like figures have been common throughout the world. They were known in China, Persia, and the Aztec empire.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |title=Jester |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/212748/fool |access-date=2012-06-07}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Otto |first=Beatrice |title=Fools Are Everywhere: The Court Jester Around the World |publisher=University of Chicago Press |year=2001 |isbn=978-0-226-64091-4 |location=Chicago}}</ref><ref>{{cite encyclopedia |title=Dalqak |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia Iranica |url=https://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/dalqak-buffoon-court-jester-also-sometimes-known-as-maskara}}</ref>