#ancient game

[johnschneiderblog]

Checkerboard wizard

"Nonplussed" is a word I don't throw around every day. But it's the word that best describes how I felt when my grandson. still 10 days shy of 9, trounced me in checkers over the weekend. Two games in a row.

I would readily concede that when it comes to video games, I wouldn't stand a chance against the kid. But checkers ... ? That's supposed to be my metier.

Historians estimate that humans have been playing checkers since around 3,000 B.C. It hasn't been quite that long for me, but I hit my stride when checkers were still made out of wood.

The kid went on to whip his 11-year-old brother and, after maneuvering his grandmother to an untenable position, mercifully declared the game a draw.

What makes him so good ...?

[theancientwayoflife]

~ Small Hounds & Jackals Game Board.

Period: Middle Kingdom, 11th Dynasty

Date: ca. 2030–1640 B.C.

Place of origin: Egypt, Upper Egypt, Thebes, Deir el-Bahri (Tomb TT 312, MMA 509, courtyard, MMA excavations, 1922–23)

Medium: Wood, paint.

[thegolfinggirlsguide]

"I trust that the effect of this match will be to influence a cordial, friendly and peaceful feeling throughout the whole civilized world… I look upon the Royal and Ancient game as being a powerful force that influences the best things in humanity."

-Samuel Ryder

[historyofplaythings]

Ancient Roman Toys

Balls, Bats, Hobbyhorses, Kites, Models of People and Animals, Hoops, Stilts, Wooden Swords were common.

Knucklebones: An ancient game similar to Jacks (for children, adults had different versions of the game). The game gets its name from the original material - the knucklebone of a sheep or goat. They could also be made of other materials such as metals or terracotta. 

Dolls

Dolls were made of clay, cloth, bone, ivory, terracotta, etc. 

Girls often dedicated their dolls, hoops, and balls to the goddesses.

Beautiful detailed and jointed ivory dolls exist from the first century A.D. Many ivory dolls were likely painted to look life-like and would’ve had real, colourful clothes. 

Board Games

Ludus Latrunculorum (Latrunculi or Latrones): A two-player board game played throughout the Roman Empire. It’s said to resemble chess, but is accepted to be a game of military tactics.

Rules for Ludus Lactrunculorum

Ludus Duodecim Scriptorum (XII Scripta): Name translates to ‘game of twelve markings’ - likely referrring to the three rows of 12 markings found on each surviving board. It is said to resemble modern backgammon in gameplay. 

Rules For Ludus Duodecim Scriptorum

Tabula: The name meaning a plank or board. It is generally considered to be the direct ancestor of modern backgammon.

Rules of Tabula

[theancientwayoflife]

~ Game Board.

Place of origin: Luxor, Thebes

Date: 2707-2219 B.C.

Period: 3rd- 6thDynasty, Predynastic

Medium: Alabaster

[theancientwayoflife]

~ Senet game.

Date: 1400-1200 B.C.

Place of origin: Egypt

Period: New Kingdom

Medium: Ivory, wood, copper.

[theancientwayoflife]

~ The Royal Game of Ur.

Date: 2600-2400 B.C.

Place of origin: Iraq, Royal Cemetery

Period/culture: Early Dynastic III

Medium: Wood, shell

[twinfoxtails]

Fuyuki would find news from management about being able to play IB

"Ah! That's a pretty old game, isn't it? W-Well, I'll think about it if it's a collab, haha! But thank you very much for greenlighting it!"