In that play the ancient: the 8 most popular games
For millennia, Board games and dice were popular in almost all cultures. They are so old that it is unknown how the game came first.
Neverhome Vikings
In July, 2018, during the excavations of the monastery of Scottish monks 7-8 century archaeologists have found an ancient game Board in the form of a stone. It is believed that it was used for playing hnefatafl — Norwegian strategic game, which is also called “Viking chess”, although with chess it has nothing to do.
from July 5th—> Medieval board games found in search for Pictish monastery https://t.co/K3AWTXqIV7
— Spartaness aka RussianGrrl (@SpartaGrrl) August 3, 2018
The Board was spaced cells. In the center was the figure of the king of white. Around it are 12 defenders. On the perimeter boards standing opponents — 24 black figures. Black went first. Their task is to capture the king, and the task of white is to bring it to the corner of the cell.
View this post in Instagram
In the summer of 2018 during excavations in the Vyborg castle in Leningrad region there was discovered a brick playing field of the XVI century. It was intended for the old game “Mill”.
In the Swedish-built fortress, called Vyborg Castle, archeologist found a secret medieval chamber and a game board for a game called “mill”.https://t.co/bGCD2vBits
— Joseph Stanick (@JosephStanick) 7 September 2018
In “the Mill” played in the middle Ages. It was popular in Central Asia and from there spread through trade routes in Eastern Europe and the Baltic States. This game was like checkers or go.
Th
The most famous Board game of China, which is now played throughout the world. It is believed that it was invented 2500 to 4000 years ago and is probably one of the oldest game still played in its original form.
View this post in Instagram
The Romans learned the game dice of the ancient Greeks. At that time, the bone cut antler, crystal, stone, ivory. For the game could be used not only common dice, and 20-sided. And not always in bone only played — they also tried to predict the future.
Rock Crystal 20 sided dice
1st-2nd Century AD
Roman Imperial Period
Rock crystal twenty-sided dice, marked X and I on two adjoining faces
The British Museumhttps://t.co/2vmQg3BFjN pic.twitter.com/fzedgeAFkK
— Sardonicus (@RealSardonicus) 6 Dec 2018
Chinese bones
Game with 14-sided dice was popular in China before our era. One of the oldest specimens was found in 2015 near the town of Qingzhou in the tomb, which is 2300 years. Arteology say that the game was called “Bo” or “pleasure”. It was played 1500 years ago, but today nobody knows the rules.
c 2,000 year old Liubo Game Board & Pieces from the Han dynasty #Chinahttps://t.co/jbzEhGBFW2 involves two players pic.twitter.com/zn26QbB6BB
— Ticia Verveer (@ticiaverveer) April 1, 2016
Israeli Mancala
In July 2018, archaeologists discovered near the Israeli town of Gedera “games room” of the 2nd century ad. Among the finds were several game boards Mancala-cut grooves in which are placed “grain” — play figures.
Spa and Game Room Found at 1,700-Year-Old Pottery Workshop in Israelhttps://t.co/u4u1VaCoXp
(salvage excavation in Genera, in the Central District)
— Michael Press (@MichaelDPress) July 31, 2018.
The birthplace of the game is Africa, although it was distributed throughout the middle East and long remained very popular.
Chaturanga
This ancient Indian game, which is considered the ancestor of chess, Shogi and other games. Rules have survived in part. There was a variant of Chaturanga for two players and for four. In the valley of the Indus, archaeologists have found a Board for Chaturanga, which is about 3 thousand years.
View this post in Instagram
This Board game appeared in India more than 4000 years ago. On the playing field in the form of a cross, the player moves the chips. The number of cells on which the chip is moved, is determined by throwing five, six or seven cowrie shells. In parcheesi played so far, it is considered the national game of India.
View this post in Instagram
See also:
- Where is the ancient “city-Tetris” (photo)
- The plague destroyed the first civilization of Europe, say scientists
- Scientists have disproved the myth about “bad teeth” medieval Europeans