The gaming boxes

Discovery:

Four gaming boards varying in size were discovered in the annex of Tutankhamen’s tomb which indicates that the game was one of the king’s favorite pastimes. Along with the gaming boxes several gaming pieces in addition to four casting sticks and seven knuckle bones were discovered.

The senet game:

The senet game was one of the games that were played by the king while still alive and has its role in the afterlife since it was referred to in the introduction of chapter 17 of the book of the dead as one of the deceased‘s occupations in the netherworld and playing it would enable the deceased to go forth in the next world as sent means passing.

The game enjoyed a long history since it was occasionally represented in the scenes on the walls of the Old Kingdom tombs as it is shown on the walls of the tomb of the official Hesire at Saqqara, also the game was mentioned as one of the funerary objects of Prince ReHotep, another representation of the game is to be seen on the alls of Madinet Habu Temple showing kings Ramses III while playing the game with his daughters. Even the pyramid construction workers used to take time out and play the sent game

Description:

The game consists of several parts as follows:

First of all it is a box-shaped game veneered with ebony, the board of the box is divided into 30 squares inlaid with ivory; 5 squares of the total 30 are inscribed with hieroglyphics. At one end of the box is a small drawer used for the storage of the gaming-pieces which were stolen by the ancient robbers. The sides of the box are inscribed with hieroglyphic inscriptions filled with yellow pigment giving the names, titles as well as the epithets of the king.

The box rests upon a bed-frame stand of ebony with feline paws, the claws of which are made of ivory. The feline paws rest upon gilded drums for support.

The game is carried upon an ebony sledge with a mirror.

The gaming pieces:

The playing pieces are generally pawn like or reel shape, numbered 5 or 7 for each player.

Way of playing:

Nothing is known for sure about the rules of the game. However, and like many other games, it was a game of chance, the aim of which was to remove all the opponent’s pieces from the board and to be the first to reach the square at the angle of the L shape inscribed with the signs of beauty and prosperity nfr and wAs. It seems that the square inscribed with the mw-sign of water may have been a hazard.

The movement of the gaming pieces over the board was determined by the throw of either the knuckle-bones or the four casting-sticks which were discovered in the tomb along with the game. The casting-stick has tow faces; one is of white ivory (one point) whereas the other is of black ebony (two points).  

The tjau-game:

Another game is to be found on the other side of the senet-game which is the tjau-game means “thieves”

Description:

The board of which is divided into 20 squares, a middle row of 12 squares flanked by four squares on each side and at one end.

Three of the squares in the middle are inscribed, one with a kneeling figure of god Heh “god of millions of years”, another one with 2 thrones in a pavilion (sign for jubilee festival), and a third with the signs of life, stability and prosperity.

Each player may have 5 playing pieces and entered individually on the board. The movement of the gaming pieces was determined by the throwing of the knuckle-bones or the casting sticks.

Way of playing:

Nothing is known for sure concerning the way of playing. However, it seems that the aim of the game was to move all the pieces from the board along the central row avoiding the opponent’s pieces and any square that.