Ancient History

Backgammon is thought to have originated in Mesopotamia, most likely in the city of Ur, about five thousand years ago. Backgammon is the oldest known board game. Originally Backgammon was played on a hard surface, such as wood. Stones were used as markers. Backgammon is interesting game like bingo. The dice used in those days were made of bones, stones, wood or pottery.

Surviving documents and artifacts show the prominence of board games similar to Backgammon among the Egyptians, Persians, Sumerians and Romans. There are boards, matching dice and inlaid playing pieces that bear a likeness to Backgammon that have been dug up from these areas. The game then reached ancient . Here, Backgammon and Parcheesi were combined and a variant called Sennet was developed. The ancient Egyptians also played this form of the game.

Backgammon In And Rome

During the era of Plato, the game was revised and took on a form that is comparable to modern day Backgammon. As was the case with so many other concepts, the Greeks took an idea that was widespread in the ancient world and recast it into a form that would be passed to the Romans before being spread all over the world with the advance of western civilization. Sophocles credited the game to Palamedes, who, according to the story, developed Backgammon to while away his time at some point during the siege of Troy when casinos are not available. The great Herodatus claimed that the game was actually invented by the Lydians.

The Romans referred to the game as ludus duodecium scriptorum. It is the Roman term for "the twelve-line game". Backgammon boards that were unearthed from the remains in Pompeii have been studied closely and have been found to be very much alike in appearance to the modern version of Backgammon. The difference was that the Romans used three dice and not the regular two that are used today. Even though Backgammon was known as the Game of Emperors, the lower classes and the upper classes also played it.

Evidence of the game was also found on a wall painting in Pompeii. This artistic remnant illustrates a scuffle at a tavern that seems to have been started as a result of a disagreement regarding a game of Backgammon.

Spread Of Backgammon

When the Romans were at their prime, conquering the area around the Mediterranean, they introduced many Roman ways to the areas they brought under their rule. As such, Backgammon was played all through the Roman Empire. With the fall of the Roman Empire, the existence of Backgammon also faded into the background in Europe. You can play backgammon on online casinos also. Things took a different turn in , where Backgammon was played in Saxon times.

This board game made reappearance at the time of the Crusades. It was commonly played in Arabia, having reached there via Persia. The Arabs, of course, used only 2 dice in comparison to the 3 used by the Romans and later the upper classes in Europe.