For thousands of years, people have been playing games in some form or another. From ancient civilizations to modern-day gamers, the love of play has remained a constant throughout human history. In this article, we’ll take a journey through time and explore the origins of some of the oldest board games still played today.
One of the earliest known board games is Senet, which dates back to around 3500 BCE in ancient Egypt. The game was played on rectangular slabs made of wood, limestone, or faience, with carved squares and symbols. While we don’t know exactly how the game was played, modern enthusiasts have reconstructed the rules based on texts mentioning Senet.
Next up is Mehen, another ancient Egyptian game that’s believed to be the earliest example of a multi-player board game. The gameboard was shaped like a coiled snake, and pieces came in two types: small spheres similar to marbles and ivory pieces in the shapes of lions and lionesses. Although we don’t know the exact rules, historians believe that up to six people could play the game.
Backgammon is another ancient game that’s even older than Chess. In 2004, archaeologists discovered a gameboard in Iran resembling the game of Backgammon, which was dated back to around 3000 BCE. The board featured sixty markers made of turquoise and agate, as well as a pair of dice.
Checkers is also a very old game that’s still played today. The origins of Checkers can be traced back to ancient Mesopotamia, with a game board resembling the modern version carbon dated to around 3000 BCE. Over the years, the game evolved as it was introduced to other countries and today, the most popular forms are English draughts/ American checkers and Russian draughts.
Chess is one of the oldest strategy games still played today, with origins dating back to ancient India around the 6th century CE. The game spread throughout Asia and eventually reached Europe in the Middle Ages. Today, there are many different variations of Chess played all over the world.
Finally, we have Checkers (also known as Draughts), which is one of the oldest board games still played today. The origins of Checkers can be traced back to ancient Mesopotamia, with a game board resembling the modern version carbon dated to around 3000 BCE. Over the years, the game evolved as it was introduced to other countries and today, the most popular forms are English draughts/ American checkers and Russian draughts.
In conclusion, these ancient board games have been entertaining people for thousands of years. From Senet to Checkers, each game has its own unique history and evolution, reflecting the culture and society of the time. Whether you’re a seasoned gamer or just starting out, there’s something fascinating about exploring the origins of these timeless classics.
Source: https://www.oldest.org/entertainment/board-games/