[1] Zara is mentioned by Dante in the Divine Comedy: Italian Text[2] Quando si parte il gioco de la zara, colui che perde si riman dolente, repetendo le volte, e tristo impara:
el non s’arresta, e questo e quello intende; a cui porge la man, piú non fa pressa, e cosí da la calca si difende.
English Translation[3] Whene'er is broken up the game of Zara, He who has lost remains behind despondent, The throws repeating, and in sadness learns;
The people with the other all depart; One goes in front, and one behind doth pluck him, And at his side one brings himself to mind;
He pauses not, and this and that one hears; They crowd no more to whom his hand he stretches, And from the throng he thus defends himself.