Historygames.it
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Handmade Ancient Games
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Great Ancient Civilizations Boardgames, Roman Boardgames, Medieval Boardgames
Who we are
Archaeological research The project “LUDUS IN TABULA”
both_the display cases of the most important European museums as well as in those of the small local ones; viewing evidence related to the games in_archaeological warehouses, and doing reconnaissance trips to archaeological sites. All that for one purpose: to play and to let play as they did in_antiquity. Thanks to the passion for_board games and the work of archaeologists, the project: “LUDUS IN TABULA!” was born to raise knowledge of the various board games in the ancient Mediterranean area that were lost in time. This is a different way to travel back in_time and to maintain knowledge of those games that are part of our tradition and should not be forgotten.
My name is Monica Silvestri, I received my Master’s Degree in Conservation of Cultural Heritage with specialism in archaeology at the University of Tuscia in Viterbo. I live in Umbria and work as an archaeologist and educational trainer. When I started my study of ancient board For many years I have been undertaking a games, I began almost immediately to recreate research project concerning the rules and them in accordance with the techniques of habits in the environment of ancient games, experimental archaeology, and trying to use unearthing information among shelves of the same original materials, I put into practice libraries and bookstores, carefully observing the pieces of information acquired from my -2-
My degree was a crucial prerequisite for this research: I might otherwise not have had access to a variety of sources in Latin and Ancient Greek and the ability to recognize traces left on the stones of monuments. I needed to understand the social mechanisms behind the game environment and to know the raw materials used in different eras. As regards the rules, they are based on previous studies and on ancient sources too, whether written or painted, sculpted or engraved. I promote the games myself when I take part in the many events related to the world of -3-
games and I set up a toy library thanks to the historical reconstruction of the games, allowing the public to use them. I organize _workshops on the history of_games of the antique world, I manage the site https://sites. google.com/site/archeoludologa/ and the Facebook page History Games. I publish my works on both sites.
Who we are
sources. There is no one store that sells all these games that I have studied and drawn from the past, so, inevitably, I had to rebuild them in order to be able to play and see if the hypothesized rules would work or not. Fortunately, I have good manual skills and over time I have learned many craft tricks such as how to use a chisel, to cut wood, to paint, etc.
Who we are
Archaeological Reproductions The games are developed in collaboration with the craftsman Gualtiero Tumolo who has dealt with artisan techniques since 1998, first as an apprentice in a restoration workshop of ancient keyboard instruments in_Carnia (province of Udine). From 2005 to 2010 he studied at the formerly National Institute of Arts “A. Bertoni� in Saluzzo and graduated
in the restoration of wood and polychrome woods. After graduating, he achieved a second qualification in jewellery-making at the same art school. Over time he has worked in various workshops as a collaborator or owner, cultivating passion and ability in various art and craft fields, thus acquiring specific skills. Currently he has a fully equipped workshop where he makes artistic and handcrafted works, both commissioned and for himself. -4-
Who we are
• the cases contain a leaflet telling the story of the game, the rules and an image from texts, paintings or graffiti of the same period. The recreations of the playing rules are as close as possible to the ancient ones, for some games it was quite easy to do_, for others, the reconstructive hypotheses are logically recreated, or based on comparisons. • the games are packaged in cardboard boxes with a characteristic graphic design. Wooden boxes on request.
Size of the leather circa 30x30 cm -5-
Size of the box 35x9x10 cm
Games - Index Great Ancient Roman Boardgame Civilizations Board games The Royal Game of Ur............................... 7 The Game of 58 Holes..................... 8 The Palm Tree Game.... 9 Senet............................. 10 Mehen...........................11 The Game of Twenty Squares............12
Medieval Boardgames
Dice and Game Pieces
Terni Lapilli................. 13
Alquerque.................... 18
Tria................................14
Three in a row............. 19
Wooden Dice and Dice Cup............... 26
Ludus Latrunculorum............ 15
Mill............................... 20
Duodecim Scripta....... 16 Tabula........................... 17
Fox and Geese ..............21 Tablut ........................... 22 Tables........................... 23 Table of Four Season................. 24
The Zara........................27 Etruscan Dice...............27 Game Pieces .................28 Games in Pouch...........29 Wooden Games........... 30 Events / Contacts........ 31
Table of Astronomy.... 25
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Sumerian race board game
The Royal Game of Ur, found in Ur (ancient Mesopotamia), is one of the world’s oldest board games. The rules have been acquired from a cuneiform tablet that describes it as a race game in which two players have to come from a square on the table and go to the end. There are special squares.
x2
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cod. 1001
Games of the Great Civilization
The Royal Game of Ur
Games of the Great Civilization
The Game of 58 Holes
Sumerian and Egyptian race board game The game of 58 holes is very similar to the Game of the Dogs and Jackals or the Palm’s game. Basically, this game depends on luck and speed between two players whom do not interact with each other. To move the pieces on the table, players throw four flat sticks. There are special squares.
x2
cod. 1002
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Egyptian race board game The Palm’s Game is also known as: “Game of the Dogs and Jackals”, because of some archaeological findings of dogs and jackals shaped pawns. Like the game of 58 holes, this game depends essentially on luck and speed between two players without any interaction between them. To move the pieces on the table, players throw four flat sticks. There are special squares.
x2
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cod. 1003
Games of the Great Civilization
The Palm Tree Game
Games of the Great Civilization
Senet
Egyptian race board game Senet is a game of speed and strategy for two players. It was one of the most frequently played games in the Egyptian world and was deeply symbolic for the Egyptian religion. Many samples come from regal sepulchres and monumental pictures. In order to move the pieces on the table, players throw four flat sticks. There are special squares marked with hieroglyphics.
x2
cod. 1004
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Egyptian race board game The Mehen or the Serpent Game is perhaps the most ancient Egyptian board game and one of the oldest ever; in fact, it was already widely used in the old kingdom of Egypt. Players should move their pieces until they turn into a hyena or a lion. In order to move the pieces on the table, players throw four flat sticks.
x2 x4
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cod. 1005
Games of the Great Civilization
Mehen
Games of the Great Civilization
The Game of Twenty Squares Egyptian race board game
Due to numerous findings in the tombs, we can say that this game was very popular in Ancient Egypt, the origin of this game is still uncertain though: perhaps it comes from the Middle East or the Indian subcontinent, because other samples were found there. Two players have to start from a square on the table and get to the end. There are special squares.
x2
cod. 1006
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Roman strategy game Terni lapilli was drawn in the shape of boxes, crossed lines and especially in a wheel shaped diagram on the stones of ambulatories of amphitheatres, on floors of public monuments and on the steps of many theatres. This game is the ancestor of the modern Tic-Tac-Toe, but has different rules that make the game very interesting compared with the current version. Because of its simplicity, it is recommended to learn the logic of the board games.
x2
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cod. 2001
Games in Ancient Rome
Terni Lapilli
Games in Ancient Rome
Tria
Roman strategy game Tria is the expanded version of terni lapilli, but should not to be confused with it. You can see it on various Roman monuments and also on medieval buildings that reuse stones from the previous era. The game is played with nine pieces instead of three and allows a greater possibility of moves, and the strategy is quite different from the terni lapilli’s ones.
x2
cod. 2002
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This is a Roman game of strategy and direct battle; simple but also very exciting because of its rules and also for its strategy. Our version is the most faithful to the documentation provided by the sources and it simulates a clash between two armies composed of eight soldiers. This game is considered one of the ancestors of the chess game.
x2
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cod. 2003
Games in Ancient Rome
Ludus Latrunculorum
Games in Ancient Rome
Duodecim Scripta
Roman race and strategy board game In order to move the pieces, players should launch three dice; the path is often composed of the letters of six Latin words arranged on purpose to create puns, jokes and even menus of taverns, also to the detriment of grammar rules. This game is the predecessor of the Tabula and an ancestor of the modern backgammon.
x2
cod. 2004
Note: Duodecim scripta is available in various phrases found in several cities of the Roman Empire, the most famous phrase came from the Castrum of the Praetorians, but there are also versions with simple geometric or floral signs. - 16 -
Roman race and strategy board game The Tabula, most likely derived from the Duodecim Scripta, is also an ancestor of the modern backgammon. Faster than the Duodecim Scripta, this is an exciting game and combines strategy, speed and luck. Pieces are moved according to the rolling of three dice. The rules are acquired from the famous match played by Zeno.
x2
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cod. 2005
Games in Ancient Rome
Tabula
Alquerque
Medieval strategy game
Medieval Games
This game has very ancient origins. According to archaeological findings, it dates back at least to the time of Pharaoh Ramses I, but was introduced to Spain during Muslim rule and then Alquerque spreads to other European countries. The rules were acquired from the Libro de los juegos commissioned by Alfonso X of Castile in the thirteenth century. It can be considered an ancestor of draughts.
x2
cod. 3001
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Three in a row
Medieval strategy game
Medieval Games
This is a medieval version of Terni Lapilli and also an ancestor of the modern TicTac-Toe. In the Libro de los juegos this game was named: Alqueque de Tres. There are versions in crossed lines and also boxes, but not a circular version .
x2
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cod. 3002
Mill
Medieval strategy game
Medieval Games
Mill is basically a medieval version of the Roman game Tria: the modern Nine Men’s Morris. It is the most recorded game among those engraved on the stones of medieval monuments, especially in sentry posts and in church cloisters. It is played with nine pieces, in fact in the Libro de los juegos it was named Alqueque de Nueve.
x2
cod. 3003
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Fox and Geese
Medieval hunting game
Medieval Games
This game descends from the ancient Nordic game called Halatafl, derived itself from Hnefatafl, and was mentioned in the Libro de los juegos as De Cercar the Liebre. The aim of the game is different for the two players, like a hunting simulation.
x2
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cod. 3004
Tablut
Medieval strategy game
Medieval Games
Tablut derived from the Viking game Hnefatafl and it was played in Northern Europe during medieval times; it is also known as Linnaeus. The game symbolizes the confrontation between two strongly different sides: the opponents are confronted with unequal weapons, according to unequal rules, so the players have a different set of pieces, movement and goals.
x2
cod. 3005
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Tables
Medieval race board game
Medieval Games
Tables is one of the medieval versions of the Roman Tabula. In the Libro de los juegos there are fifteen variants of this game and it is drawn in various medieval paintings and codes. This game is the most direct ancestor of the modern Backgammon, but it is played in a different and more exciting way.
x2
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cod. 3006
Table of Four Season
Medieval race board game
Medieval Games
This board game is the sole medieval one for four players. In the Libro de los juegos it was described as a game of the tables family. Each player chooses a colour corresponding to a season and takes a place in its sector. This game is an ancestor of the modern backgammon as well, but since it’s for four players, the game has a different strategy and is more exiting.
x4
cod. 3007
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Table of Astronomy
Medieval race board game
Medieval Games
This board game is the sole medieval one for seven players. In the Libro de los juegos it was described as a game of the tables family. Each player chooses a colour corresponding to a planet and takes a place in its sector. The aim of the game is to win all the items of the other players. This game is also an ancestor of the modern backgammon, but with seven players the game’s strategy is totally different.
7
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cod. 3008
Wooden Dice and Dice Cup Game Pieces
Games are provided with a set of wooden dice, or you can make your own selection. The dice are handmade, with dots and circles on six faces, just like ancient ones. You can also order the Dice Cup, called Fritillus in Roman times, and the Dice Tower with internal ramps where dice tumble down to get shuffled; the tower was called Turricola.
cod. 4001
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The Zara
The Zara was the most common and popular gambling dice game in the Middle Ages; it was so in vogue to deserve a mention by Dante Alighieri too. The set consists of three wooden handmade dice, pouch and booklet with rules and anecdotes, including the verse of Dante; you can also order the game with a Dice Cup.
Etruscan Dice
cod. 4002
Etruscans dice were, like the Roman ones, marked with dots, with the exception of a pair of ivory dice which were instead marked with the corresponding Etruscan words from one to six. The booklet illustrates historical notes and the development of the dice with the translation. - 27 -
2+
2+
cod. 4003
Game Pieces
Medieval dice game
Games in Pouch
Astragali knuckle bones
In ancient times, astragali were used as dice. They had two opposed large sides and two opposed smaller sides, over which four values were distributed. The handmade astragali can be ordered in bags containing four, in either ceramic or metal. The booklet illustrates historical notes and rules. cod. 4004 MT cod. 4004 TC 2+
Game Pieces
Historic reproduction Disk-shaped pieces decorated with incised concentric circles or counters with a plano-convex section decorated with lines combined with dot motif. Game pieces are made of pottery plaster and can be purchased in set of 15. On demand game pieces can be purchased in bone or metal. cod. 4005 - 28 -
Games in Pouch
Some of our games can be made of leather in a resealable bag with a string. Available games: Terni Lapilli and Tris, Tria and Mill, Ludus Latrunculorum, Alquerque, Fox and Geese, Tablut and Zara.
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Game Pieces
Games of various historical periods.
Handcrafted Wooden Games Wooden Games
on demand
Our board is an authentic wooden replica with handmade wooden pieces.
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Events
Events
We organize meetings, conferences concerning board games in antiquity, theoretical and practical workshops, themed evenings, courses regarding ancient games in schools, set designs for Roman or medieval settings, tournaments of historical games, recreation centres and historical consultancies.
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Historygames.it ÂŽ
JEWELS
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presents the exclusive collection of finely crafted jewelry. Historical reproduction of ancient jewels of medieval and Roman times.
Historygames has created an unprecedented line of jewelry, inspired by the board game in the ancient world, reproducing the shape of the pawns and some ancient decorative elements on pendants, earrings and rings, for the purpose of spreading the culture of the game and of the past civilizations also through the jewels.
You can view the complete Jewels catalog on: https://www.historygames.it/jewelry/
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NOW YOU CAN BUY ALL OUR GAMES FROM HOME
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https://eshop.historygames.it we accept wire transfers and payments by - 33 -
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NON ADATTO A BAMBINI DI ETÀ INFERIORE A 3 ANNI. Conservare le regole con il gioco.
NOT FOR CHILDREN LOWER THAN 3 YEARS OLD. - 34 Keep the rules with the game.
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Contacts
Monica Silvestri +39 347 6268 125 Gualtiero Tumolo +39 329 7920 931 e-mail: info@historygames.it web: www.historygames.it facebook: historygames.it
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