The Imperiia Project: a spatial history of the Russian EmpireMain MenuProjectsDashboardsData CatalogMapStoriesGalleriesGamesWho said history was boring?Teach Our ContentCiting the ProjectKelly O'Neilldc20b45f1d74122ba0d654d19961d826c5a557f5The Imperiia Project // Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies, Harvard University
Tiflis Province
12020-08-16T23:07:20-04:00Kelly O'Neilldc20b45f1d74122ba0d654d19961d826c5a557f591Item in the set of geographic playing cards produced in Russia in 1856. These were elaborately illustrated, beautifully-produced playing cards laden with pedagogical and ideological value. There is one card for each province of the Russian Empire.plain2020-08-16T23:07:20-04:001856LoC_RussianGeogCards60.jpgKelly O'Neilldc20b45f1d74122ba0d654d19961d826c5a557f5
12020-08-17T02:40:05-04:00Kelly O'Neilldc20b45f1d74122ba0d654d19961d826c5a557f5The Playing Cards: patience solutionKelly O'Neill5structured_gallery2021-02-09T11:53:53-05:00Kelly O'Neilldc20b45f1d74122ba0d654d19961d826c5a557f5
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12020-08-17T11:25:44-04:00Not in the Cards35card gameplain2022-05-06T16:11:51-04:00
Sometimes, it's just not in the cards.
These playing cards are astonishing in many ways. They are informative and systematic and entertaining. They are also full of idiosyncrasies and little mysteries. Your job is to solve them (by going beyond the cards and doing some good old-fashioned research).
Here is a trio of mysteries to get you started.
Not in the Cards, Round 1
According to the playing cards... ... Vilno Province has mountains. It is a bit of a curious claim, since the area around the city of Vilnius (it is now known by its Lithuanian name) is, eh hem, not known for its elevation profile. The city does have its own ski hill, however, so perhaps there is something to the claim.
Here is your challenge: Find out to which mountains the card refers, as well as their maximum elevation.
Not in the Cards, Round 2
According to the playing cards... ...one of the claims to fame of Tiflis is that it is the burial place of someone named Griboedov.
(Literally, the card says "Griboedov is buried here.")
Here is your challenge: Determine the identity of this Griboedov character? What was his occupation?
Hint: He is the only man of his occupation named in the deck.
Not in the Cards, Round 3
According to the playing cards... ...there were "eternal fires" burning in Shemakha Province.
Here is your challenge: Find out what could possibly explain this strange phenomenon?
Provincial town: Tiflis Area (sq miles): 2,846 Population: no notation Population density: unknown Cities: 5 Trade note: Trade is conducted extremely actively. Climate note: no notation
Notable features:
Tifliskaia and New Zakataly fortresses
Within the boundaries of Tiflis province there are 4 districts [okrug]: Gorskii, Osetinskii, Tushino-Pshavo Khevsurskii, and Velokanskii.
In 1826, on September 19th, Russians secured a victory under the leadership of Count Paskevich Erivanskii over Abas Mirza.
Tiflis is the former capital of Georgia and the burial place of Griboedov.
the spectacular Church of St. David, built in the 14th century
