Dice, Counter and Chess piece

These ivory pieces were discovered in a storage area within the Umayyad palace of Al-Fudayn (cf. J15711). They represent pieces used in board games: two dice, a counter and a chess piece (the white rook). Wooden boards related to these objects were not preserved.

On the dice, the numerals symbols are carved in the form of three concentric circles with a dot. The decoration of the counter consists of an outer circle, in the middle of which is a slight projection like a knob with a small dot. The knob is framed with a projected circle. The base is flat. The counter looks much like the pieces in use today. The chess piece is decorated with a series of horizontal lines at the top and bottom. The base is normal and flat. The upper part is formed as a tower with a dentate wall around a tunnel encircling the hollow inner part. From Ayla there is one ivory object, which reminds of forms used for the “white queen”. 

The dice, counter and chess piece belong to “board games” known in the Levant and Egypt since ancient times and continuing until today. These games include Manqala, tic-tac-toe, the actual board game (Tawlat Az-Zahr) and others.

Examples of board games are attested in the Neolithic period, which is dated in Jordan between 8500 and 4500 B. C. From ‘Ain Ghazal, a stone was discovered with holes engraved in a similar arrangement to the Manqala. Possibly the same game is engraved on a stone with cup-holes found in Tabaqat Fahl in northern Jordan. Many examples of this game were found among the rock engravings of Al-Jusasiyyah in Qatar. In the past the Manqala has different forms, today it is very common in the Levant and sub-Saharan Africa.

The oldest examples of board games similar to modern backgammon were known in Iraq, Iran and Egypt in the third millennium B.C. In Mesopotamia some examples were found in the Royal Cemetery of Ur.

A text written in Akkadian from the second century B. C. describes the rules of the game. Instead of the dice, two knucklebones (astragali), one from sheep the other from cow, were used. Games with knucklebones were common in the Levant. Examples were collected from Wadi Al-Baq’ah in Jordan, Tell Taannek, Tell Al-Mutasallim (ancient Megiddo), Khirbet Al-Muqanna’ (ancient Ekron) in Palestine. Games with knucklebones are attested today in some Palestinian villages and in Europe.

The two dice of Al-Fudayn presumably belong to backgammon, which is usually traced to Indian origins. Similar dice to those of Al-Fudayn, but smaller, were found in a Roman theater in Jerash. The dice of Al-Fudayn are similar to examples dated to the Frankish period. Dice were found in sites such Kawkab Al-Hawa (Belvoir) in northern Palestine, and Atlit, south of Haifa. In contrast to Al-Fudayn dice, the numerals on the dice of Atlit are engraved with one circle and a dot.

Some counters were also found in Frankish sites. These are decorated with a cross and other designs. The counter of Al-Fudayn seems to be one of the oldest counters found until now.

A game known today as Nine Men's Morris in English and Mühle in German was also played in ancient Palestine during the Roman and Umayyad periods. In the Frankish period the game appeared in Atlit, Kawkab Al-Hawa (Belvoir) and Akka. There are two examples from Shawbak in Jordan. The game seems to have originated in Rome.